The 27th IFFK will begin on Friday evening 3.30. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the Nishagandhi Auditorium. Culture Department Minister VN Vasavan will preside over the event. The British Film Institute's resident pianist, Jonny Best, will be the special guest. The Chief Minister will honour director Mahnas Mohammadi, who is fighting for women's rights in Iran, with the Spirit of Cinema Award. After the opening ceremony, there will be a sitar concert by Purbayan Chatterjee at 5. After the concert, the opening film, "Tori and Lokita," will be screened. This is the first screening of this film in India, which is a joint venture between Belgium and France. The film screened in competition at the Cannes Film Festival last May and won the Cannes 75th annual prize. The film tells the story of the bond between a refugee boy and girl who are born in Africa and grow up on the streets of Belgium.
186 films from 70 countries will be screened at the eight-day festival from December 9 to 16. 14 films will be screened in the international competition category. 12 in the Malayalam Cinema Today category, and seven in the Indian Cinema Now category. 78 films will be screened in the world cinema category. The festival will host the world premieres of 12 films. The show will be held in 14 theatres. A total of 12000 delegates are expected. About 200 filmmakers are participating as guests in the fair, and about 40 are from foreign countries.
Five silent films will be screened accompanied by live music. The fair will also have a special screening of Swayamvaram, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. A film eligible for the Golden Chakoram for Best Film will receive Rs 20 lakh. The best director eligible for the Rajata Chakoram will get Rs 4 lakh, and the best debutant director eligible for the Rajata Chakoram will get Rs 3 lakh. The director of the film who is eligible for the audience award will get Rs. 2 lakh, and the best debutant director in India who is eligible for the KR Mohanan Endowment Award will get Rs. 1 lakh.
The best films in the international category are chosen by the jury, which is chaired by German director Weit Helmer. The other members are Greek filmmaker Athena Rachel Sangari, Spanish-Uruguayan director Alvaro Bruckner, Argentinian actor Nahul Pérez Biscayart, and Indian director Chaitanya Tamhane. Aya Jury Netpak Awards and N. Jury FFSI KR, chaired by Manu Chakraborty Mohanan, will also be given out.
