The stage has been set for the 17th edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFES), which cinema enthusiasts in the city have been awaiting with interest. The festival will be inaugurated on Thursday, January 29, at 5 pm in front of the Vidhana Soudha by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Chairman of the Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti, and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly U.T. Khader will be present at the event. Multilingual actor and festival ambassador Prakash Raj and actor Rukmini Vasanth will attend as special guests. Karnataka Film Academy President Sadhu Kokila will also be present.
At 5.30 pm, a programme titled Vishwa Sangeetha Sambhrama will be held under the leadership of Dr Jyotsna Srikanth, featuring 35 artistes. The formal inaugural ceremony will begin at 6 pm. At 8 pm, the Netherlands film Port of Bagage will be screened as the opening film of the festival.
The festival will be held from January 30 to February 6 and will feature around 225 films from 65 countries. These films will depict the social conditions, lifestyles, and cultures of various countries. Films that have been screened at major international film festivals will be showcased under the theme “The World in Bengaluru”. Each year, the festival is organised with a specific motto. This year’s theme carries the tagline “Stree Samvedane, Samanateya Dhwani” (Women’s Sensibility, Voice of Equality), inspired by the line “Stree Endare Ashthe Saake” from a well-known poem by national poet Dr G.S. Shivarudrappa.
The festival will include screenings under several categories such as Asian Cinema Competition, Chitra Bharati (Indian Cinema Competition), Kannada Cinema Competition, Contemporary World Cinema, Kannada Popular Cinema, FIPRESCI – Critics’ Week, Biographical Films, Country Focus: Poland, Indian Regional Language Films, and Retrospectives. As part of special screenings, five significant Kannada films starring Dr Rajkumar will be shown. Seven Polish films directed by Andrzej Wajda, notable films of actor Smita Patil, four major films by Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul, contemporary Indian films that have received recognition at international festivals, and restored Indian classics will also be screened.
During the eight days of the festival, daily sessions such as interactions with experts, lectures, masterclasses, and seminars related to filmmaking, direction, screenwriting, technology, and the film industry will be organised. Festival ambassador Prakash Raj will deliver a lecture titled “Naavu Mattu Namma Cinema”. Editor Sreekar Prasad will speak on “The Importance of Film Editing”. Director and editor Mahesh Narayanan will address “Contemporary Film Narrative and Style”. Sound designer Bishwadeep Chatterjee will present a session on “Beyond the Visual – The Art of Audiography”. Director Anurag Kashyap will speak on “Filmmaking Beyond Conventional Narratives”.
An annual memorial lecture on cinematographer V.K. Murthy will be held, focusing on lens selection, lighting design, and cinematography, moderated by senior cinematographer G.S. Bhaskar. Discussions on four decades of Kannada cinema will be held with Dr Girish Kasaravalli, Dr Sadhu Kokila, Dr Jayamala, and others. Dr Girish Kasaravalli will also deliver a lecture on “Rootedness and Realism in Film Narratives”. Additionally, the Karnataka Lekhakiyara Sangha will organise discussions centred on the festival’s theme, along with several other programmes.
The Bengaluru International Film Festival will run from January 29 to February 6. Film screenings will be held at Cinepolis multiplex at Lulu Mall, Rajajinagar, Suchitra Film Society in Banashankari 2nd Stage, and the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce premises.
