The capital is in a movie frenzy starting today. The 27th International Film Festival of Kerala will begin today. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the film festival at Nishagandhi Auditorium at 3.30. Culture Department Minister VN Vasavan will preside over the ceremony. 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.
Purbayan Chatterjee will perform a sitar concert following the inauguration ceremony at five. The first movie, "Tori and Lokita," will be shown following the event. This film, a collaboration between Belgium and France, is being shown for the first time in India. In May of last year, the movie debuted in competition at the Cannes Film Festival and was awarded the 75th annual prize. The film depicts the story of the friendship between a refugee boy and girl who are born in Africa and grow up on the streets of Belgium.
The eight-day festival, which runs from December 9 through December 16, will feature 186 films from 70 different nations. In the category of international competition, 14 movies will be screened. Seven films go under the Indian Cinema Now category and twelve under Malayalam Cinema Today. The international cinema category will screen 78 movies. Twelve films will have their world premieres during the festival. 14 theatres will host the performance. 12000 delegates in total are anticipated. The fair is hosting roughly 200 people, of which about 40 are international filmmakers.
Live music will be played while five silent movies are shown. Swayamvaram, which is commemorating its 50th anniversary, will also have a special screening at the event. A movie that is in the running for the Golden Chakoram for Best Film will get Rs 20 lakh. The best debut director qualified for the Rajata Chakoram will receive Rs. 3 lakh, and the best director qualified for the Rajata Chakoram will receive Rs. The finest debutant director in India who is eligible for the KR Mohanan Endowment Prize will receive Rs. 1 lakh, and the film's director will receive Rs. 2 lakh if they win the audience award.
