BIFFes: No clarity on screening of Palestine films at festival

With a week to go for the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes), the organisers have released the list of movies to be screened under different sections (Contemporary World Cinema, Country Focus and Retrospective).

The event in Bengaluru comes on the back of International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), which was hit by a ban on a large number of movies, including movies with Palestine-related themes.

At a press conference on Wednesday, the BIFFes organisers said, “There is no clarity yet on the screening of Palestine movies at the festival.”

Murali P.B., artistic director, BIFFes, said the festival “had programmed some noted Palestine-related movies but is awaiting censor-exemption from the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.”

Talking to reporters, Hemant M. Nimbalkar, Commissioner, Department of Information and Public Relations, said the organising committee of BIFFes would discuss the matter with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The Kerala government took a defiant stance against a similar situation, directing the State Chalanachitra Academy to screen the banned movies as planned. Giving in to protests, the Union Ministry approved screenings of 13 of the 19 movies under scanner.

Palestine 36, All That’s Left of You and Wajib were among the Palestine movies banned at the IFFK. Resul Pookutty, Chalanachitra Academy chairman, had said that the IFFK didn’t want to be seen as jeopardising the country’s international relations.

ALSO READ: ‘Ban’ on films at International Film Festival of Kerala: An attack on progressive cinema

The 17th BIFFes will take place from January 29 to February 06 at the Lulu Mall. General public has to pay ₹800 for the delegate pass, while passes for film industry members, the society members, students and senior citizens are priced at ₹450. Those interested can visit biffes.org for more details.

Masterclasses

‘We and Our Cinema’ by actor-politician Prakash Raj

‘Editing for Emotion & Pace’ by editor Sreekar Prasad

‘New-Age Storytelling: How Form Shapes Emotion’ by editor-filmmaker Mahesh Narayanan

‘Beyond Stereotypes- Rethinking Narrative Boundaries’ by filmmaker Anurag Kashyap

Special sessions

A conversation with Jayant Kaikini on film appreciation and his experience as a writer

Lecture on Andrej Wajda- Centenary Tribute and Polish Film Culture, in collaboration with the Polish Institute, New Delhi

Special Screenings

Screenings celebrating years of cinematic journeys of renowned producer Paravathamma Rajkumar, directors SV Rajendra Singh Babu, Girish Kasaravalli, cinematographer S Ramachandra and actor Jayamala.

Remembrance

Tributes to musician Bhupen Hazarika, Egyptian film director Youssef Chahine, actor B Saroja Devi (restored Amarashilpi Jakanachari) and MS Umesh (Golmaal Radhakrishna) and Shankar Nag (digitalised Accident).