The 16th Bengaluru International Film Festival will begin with an inauguration ceremony outside the premises of Vidhana Soudha on Saturday. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate the annual festival while veteran star Shivarajkumar and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar will join the event as chief guests.
Books to be released
Shivarajkumar, who returned from the U.S. after undergoing treatment for bladder cancer in January, is set to release five cinema-related books published by the Karnataka Film Academy. Actor Priyanka Mohan, actor and ambassador of BIFFes Kishore Kumar G., Malgorzata Wejsis-Golebiak, the Polish Institute Director, and M. Narasimhalu, president of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce will also be present.
The Hindi film Pyre is the opening film of the festival. Directed by Vinod Kapri, the film is a poignant drama abount an ageing couple. More than 200 films will be screened across 11 screens at the Orion Mall, with additional screenings at Kalavidara Sangha, Dr. Rajkumar Bhavan and Suchitra Film Society.
Special events
The organisers are set to hold a special event at Orion Mall (screen 11) on March 3 to celebrate World Kannada Cinema Day, honouring the release of the first Kannada talkie Sati Sulochana (1934).
Actor Srujan Lokesh will be present for the event while veteran stage singer Lakshmana Das will perform from the film. Grandchildren of Y.V. Rao (the film’s director) and Bellave Narahari Shastri (the film’s writer) will take part in the event.
Published – March 01, 2025 12:09 am IST
