15th IFFK: And the Countdown begins

Trivandrum is all set to be the hub of film buffs and serious crowds within just 6 more days. As this year’s International Film Festival of Kerala is going to sweep the heat of state, it is as if the capital can’t just wait to embrace the teeming crowds alighting from all corners of the world. 190 films, 83 countries and 16 categories, the 15th IFFK is going to be a landmark in the history of film festivals in India.

Starting from December 10th, this 7 day festival is set to cover a wide range of categories this year. Apart from the conventional World Cinema, Malayalam Cinema Today and Indian Cinema Now, various new categories have been included to boost diverse tastes in the film aficionados. Forget Africa, Japanese Master Section, Manga Cartoons, Films on Flamenco (a Spanish dance form) etc will be a unique experience to the delegates this time. In due reverence of the great German film maker Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Kerala’s T.V.Chandran, special Retrospective sessions will be included.

A special category to mark the 200th anniversary of the independence of Latin- American countries, the Bicentennial will be one of the key highlights of the 15th IFFK. Spirit of Independence will form a collection of the best works of Africa-American film makers. 5 films each of the contemporary masters like the Thai director, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, the Mexican Maria Novaro and the French Director, Oliver Asayas, will be screened in the festival.

Central Asian cinema is another section categorized in the list. This year, the well-known women film makers around the world will also present their films in the Women’s section. In memory of the Burkinabé actors, a tribute to Sotigui Kouyate, one amongst the earliest in them, five of his top movies will be screened.

With a comprehensive categorization of the world classics, the 15th IFFK is sure to open the frontiers of quality cinema to the humble reach of scores of cinema lovers.