IFFK 2024: The show begins today; Kerala capital turns cinema paradiso

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s capital city is all set to be under the spell of the movie magic once again. The 29th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), often termed the annual pilgrimage for the film buffs of the southern state, will begin in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday (Dec 13).

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the film festival at Nisagandhi Auditorium on Friday evening. The festival, featuring 177 films from 68 countries in various sections, will take place from December 13 to 20.

The inaugural event will witness Kerala honouring two women artistes who have made their mark in world cinema in two different fields. Ann Hui, critically acclaimed actor-director from Hong Kong, will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the IFFK at the inaugural ceremony while versatile actor Shabana Azmi, who celebrates 50 years of her career this year, will be the guest of honour.

Portuguese political drama to open IFFK 2024
'I'm Still Here' (Portugal), a 2024 political biographical drama film, will be the opening film of the 29th edition of IFFK. The Brazil-France co-production, directed by Walter Salles, is expected to be a compelling narrative of a woman’s search for her missing husband, a dissident politician during the military dictatorship in Brazil.

Fourteen films in the international competition section will vie for the top "Suvarna Chakoram" (Golden Pheasant) award, carrying a cash prize of Rs 20 lakh. The winner of the "Rajatha Chakoram" (Silver Pheasant) award will get Rs 4 lakh and the best debut director will win Rs 3 lakh as cash prize. The director who wins the audience poll will get Rs 2 lakh and the best debut director from India Rs 1 lakh.

Ace French cinematographer Agnes Godard will be the chairperson of the five-member international jury. Known for her collaborations with Claire Denis and her work in films like ‘Beau Travail,’ ‘Home,’ and ‘Wings of Desire,’ Godard has won awards, including the César Award for Best Cinematography and the Pierre Angénieux Excellence in Cinematography at Cannes.

The other members of the jury are filmmakers Marcos Loayza (Bolivia), Mikayel Dovlatyan (Armenia), Nana Dzhordjadze (Georgia), and Monjul Baruah (Assam, India). One film by each jury member will be screened during the festival.

The festival has also included a segment titled Celebrating Shabana Azmi, which will begin with the screening of 'Ankur' on December 14. The other four films to be showcased at the festival are 'Arth', 'Khandhar', 'Paar', and 'Fire'.

Festival Favourite
As many as 13 films, which earned acclaim on the global festival circuit this year, including the opening film 'I Am Still Here', will be screened as part of the Festival Favourite section.

The other films in the package are 'The Substance,' 'Grand Tour,' 'Caught by the Tides,' 'The Room Next Door,' 'Anora,' 'Emilia Perez,' 'Suspended Time,' 'The Witness,' 'The Girl with the Needle,' 'Shikun,' 'Vermiglio,' and 'Meeting with the Pol Pot.'

The other segments of the film festival are Malayalam Cinema Today, Indian Cinema Now, Country Focus, Retrospective, The Female Gaze, Latin American Cinema, Kaleidoscope, Midnight Cinema, Animation, Restored Classics and Homage. Open forums, In Conversation, Meet the Director, Aravindan Memorial Lecture, book releases and panel discussions will be held as part of the festival.

Over 13,000 delegates and 100-odd film artists and technicians will attend the festival. Seventy per cent of the seats will be allotted through reservation and the remaining 30 per cent will be open for those who have not reserved.

Senior citizens need not stand in the queue. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will provide free services for delegates from one theatre to another.