New Delhi, Dec 11 (Representative) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the 29th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) on December 13 at Nishagandhi Auditorium, Minister for Cultural Affairs Saji Cherian, said on Tuesday.The Lifetime Achievement Award carrying a prize money of Rs 1 lakh and a citation will be presented to the Hong Kong director Ann Hui.Following the inaugural event, the movie ‘I Am Still Here’ will be screened at Nishagandhi Auditorium. Directed by the Brazilian director Walter Salles, this Portuguese film is a collaboration between Brazil and France.The film won the Best Screenplay award at the Venice International Film Festival and was also nominated for the Golden Bear Award. It was named one of the top five international films of the year by the New York-based National Board of Review and one of the top 50 films of the year by the British magazine ‘Sight & Sound’.Based on the brutal events that took place in Brazil in 1971 under military dictatorship, the film tells the story of Eunice Paiva, a mother of five who goes in search of her husband, and through her perspective, the deep wounds of the country are communicated to the audience. The inaugural event will be preceded by a dance performance by the Kerala Kalamandalam.The festival, which will be held from December 13 to 20, will screen 177 films from 68 countries across 15 theatres. The festival will feature 14 films in the International Competition, 12 films in the Malayalam Cinema Today, 7 films in the Indian Cinema Now, and 63 films in the World Cinema category.Another attraction will be the ‘Festival Favourites’ category comprising 13 films that have garnered audience appreciation at leading international film festivals.Marking the centenary of Armenian cinema, seven films will be screened in the ‘Country Focus’ section. Other major attractions of the festival include a retrospective of South Korean director Hong Sang-soo and tributes to actress Shabana Azmi and cinematographer Madhu Ambat for completing 50 years in cinema.
Special packages such as ‘Female Gaze’, focusing movies from female directors, Latin American package, Kaleidoscope, Midnight Cinema, Animation Films, Restored Classics which also includes two films restored by the Chalachitra Academy, and films screened on the birth centenary of veterans like P. Bhaskaran, Parappurath and Thoppil Bhasi. The festival expects over 13,000 delegates and around 100 filmmakers as guests. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will present the Spirit of Cinema Award to director Payal Kapadia at the closing ceremony on December 20. 70 percent of seats in theatres will be allocated for reservations and 30 percent for unreserved attendees.Senior citizens will be allowed to enter without waiting in queues. Two KSRTC e-buses will operate a special free service for the delegates connecting the screening venues.A cash prize of Rs 20 lakhs will be awarded to the best feature film winning The Golden Crow Pheasant Award. The Silver Crow Pheasant Award for Best Director carries a cash prize of Rs 4 lakhs and the Silver Crow Pheasant Award for the Best Debut Director will be presented with a sum of Rs 3 lakhs.A cash prize of Rs 2 lakhs will be given to the director of the film winning the audience poll Award and K R Mohanan Endowment Award for best debut director in India will be presented with an award money of Rs 1 lakh.The Jury panel led by renowned French Cinematographer, Agnès Godard includes Georgian director Nana Dzhordzhadze, Bolivian director and scriptwriter Marcos Loayza, Armenian director and actor Mikayel Dovlatyan and Assamese director Monjul Baruah.A tribute to the legendary film personalities who passed away in recent times will be organized as part of the festival on December 14th at Nila Theatre.The function will honour the memories of Kumar Shahani, Mohan, Harikumar, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Chelavoor Venu, Neyyattinkara Komalam. Six books published by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy as part of the memoir series will be launched. Four remarkable films will be screened in the homage category.As part of the IFFK, a digital art exhibition titled “Cinema Alchemy: A Digital Art Tribute” will pay homage to 50 legendary filmmakers from all around the world. Curated by director T K Rajeev Kumar, the exhibition will showcase 50 digital paintings created by artist and filmmaker Razi Muhammad.The exhibition will be inaugurated on December 14 at the main venue of the festival, the Tagore Theatre premises. This unique display will feature works dedicated to cinematic legends such as Akira Kurosowa, Alan Rene, Alfred Hitchcock, Tarkovsky, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Aravindan, Agnès Varda, Márta Mészáros, and Mira Nair.
The exhibition promises to be a rare visual feast, seamlessly blending digital art with the essence of filmmaking.The yesteryear actresses of Malayalam Cinema who ruled the industry from its nascent stage to the 80s, will be honored at the Manaveeyam Veedhi on 15th December by Saji Cherian, Minister for Cultural Affairs.K R Vijaya, T R Omana, Vidhubala, Bhavani (Lisa), Shobha (Chembarathi), Hema Chaudhary, Kanakadurga, Reena, Shanthi Krishna, Sreelatha Namboothiri, Surekha, Jalaja, Menaka, Anupama Mohan, Shanthakumari, Mallika Sukumaran, Sachu (Saraswathi), Ushakumari, Vinodini, Rajasree (Gracy), Vanchiyoor Radha and Vanitha Krishnachandran are the personalities in spotlight. The night will end with a musical event presenting the songs of these actresses.As a part of the festival, a torch-bearing march invoking memories of the legends of Malayalam cinema will be organized. The march, which will be held on December 12, will kick off from Neyyattinkara at 10 AM and will culminate at Maanaveeyam Veedhi at 6.30 PM.The march will pay respects at the memorials of J.C. Daniel, P.K. Rosy, Sathyan, Prem Nazir, and Neyyattinkara Komalam and will also pay tribute at the Merryland Studio.Various programmes such as Open Forum, In Conversation, Meet the Director, Aravindan Memorial address, and Panel discussion, will also be part of this year’s festival.Cultural programmes will be held at the Manaveeyam Veedhi from December 14 to 19 till 6.30 pm. Anitha Shaiq, Divya Nair, Pushpavathi, Fungus Band, and ONV choir will perform at Manaveeyam Veedhi. Before the closing ceremony at Nishagandhi Auditorium on 20th December, a flute concert by Rajesh Cherthala will also take place.