The 17th edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFES) ended on Friday night at Lulu Mall in the city.
Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao attended the event as the chief guest. Film festival ambassador Prakash Raj, Karnataka Film Academy President Dr Sadhu Kokila, Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce President Dr Jayamala and others were present.
Renowned lyricist and music director Dr Hamsalekha was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Hamsalekha said that there is no end to art, ‘art is only a beginning. Creativity never stops. Cinema is a collective effort, like farming and cannot be made by one person alone’ said Hamsalekha.
He thanked the state government for supporting the festival and said receiving the lifetime award made him very happy. He said artists owe a lot to Karnataka and the Kannada language, as they live and grow through it.
He described art as food for the soul and said he has lived on it for six decades. He spoke about how Kannada cinema, through films like ‘Kantara’ and ‘KGF’, has reached audiences from the south to the north of India. He added that cinema must help protect democracy, especially in the land of Basava, who sowed the seeds of democratic thought.
Dinesh Gundu Rao opined that film festivals allow people to watch movies from different languages and cultures, helping art reach a higher level. He agreed that art has a responsibility to protect democracy. He said all kinds of films should be made—commercial as well as artistic. There should be no fear in art; there must be freedom of expression and the right to ask questions. Filmmakers should be able to make films in Kannada with courage and independence. Artists should work with a sense of responsibility.
Festival ambassador Prakash Raj said that languages may be different, but emotions are the same. Though grammar differs, human understanding is shared. He called cinema a new language in human evolution that records culture, pain, and struggles. Film festivals are platforms to share human experiences from around the world.
He said films must document the pain faced by society and the nation. Honoring Hamsalekha, he said, added deeper meaning to the festival.
Karnataka Film Academy President Dr. Sadhu Kokila said all the films screened at the festival were of high quality. He called BIFFES India’s largest film festival and thanked the government and officials who worked hard for it. He said new initiatives this year were successful, including an exhibition of photos of film achievers with 92 years of cinema history, Tent cinema screenings and Special screenings of films starring Dr. Rajkumar and other actors. He said honoring Hamsalekha was a matter of pride for the film community. Over one lakh senior citizens attended the festival.
Information and Public Relations Commissioner Hemant M. Nimbalkar, Secretary B.B. Kaveri, Film Academy Registrar Vinod Chandra, Artistic Director Murali and others were present at the occasion.
