Over 200 films from 60 countries will be screened in the 11 screens of PVR Cinemas in Orion Mall, Rajajinagar, in the 16th edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes), which will be held from March 1-8.
Some of the highlights of the events include interactive sessions with filmmakers such as Chidambaram of Manjummel Boys (2024)fame, Rajkumar Periasamy, the director of the recent hit biopic Amaran, and ace cinematographer Ravi Varman, who recently got inducted into American Society of Cinematographers.
The organisers have also planned a full-day seminar on the use of Artificial Intelligence in film production.
The festival will have centenary tributes to legendary filmmakers Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor, and Ritwik Ghatak and popular Kannada actor K.S. Ashwath. BIFFes is also set to screen the restored version of Girish Kasaravalli’s National Award-winning Ghatashraddha. The Film Heritage Foundation along with Martin Scorsee’s The Film Foundation’s World Cinema project restored the 1977 Kannada film in 2024.
BIFFes 2025 is set to have a retrospective section on Indian filmmaker Shyam Benegal, Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski, and German filmmaker Wim Wenders. Ankur (1974), Nishant (1975), Bhumika (1977), Manthan (1976),and Mammo (1994)are some of the films of Benegal to be screened at the festival. The filmmaker passed away on December 23, 2024, at the age of 90. In the contemporary world cinema section, Oscar favourites Anora and Emilia Perez will be screened.
Tent cinema
During a press conference on Wednesday, actor Sadhu Kokila, chairman of the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, said that the organisers are contemplating holding open-air film screenings. “We want to screen old classics like Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu (1974)and Naagarahaavu (1972) using a 16mm projector. Like the olden days, we want people to experience the joy of watching films in an outdoor setting,” said Mr. Kokila, adding that the idea is still in the planning stage.
Registrations open
Registrations for the festival are open on the official website Biffes.org. While the general public has to pay ₹800, film industry professionals, film society members, students, and senior citizens have to pay ₹400. After completing the online registration, passes can be collected at the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy (Nandini Layout) or at the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (Shivananda Circle) from February 18. For the full schedule, visit Biffes.org.
Published – February 12, 2025 08:57 pm IST
