Q. What makes the 15th IFFK different from its previous chapter, the last year?

A. The uniqueness of every chapter of a festival like IFFK demands two cardinal norms, the participant quality as well as the film selection. Like all our festivals for the past 14 years, we are getting high quality delegates with an enlightened perspective to film industry. Therefore, this year also we are expecting an inspiring audience.

Regarding the film packages, this time we have planned exclusive region-specific sections which will be a highlight attraction of the 15th International Film Festival of Kerala. A substantial focus is being given to the Afro- Asian, third world countries. Apart from the films from countries dominant in the Film industry, this time high quality films from Central Asian countries like Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will form an added appeal. Bicentennial section is a very important category in the 15th IFFK. This year’s film festival will have a judicious blend of both old and contemporary cinema.

Q. How was the film selection process for the festival this time?

A. We had a very difficult time with the selection process to pick out 200 films from the thousands of entries we received. The selection committee in the region-specific category itself was divided into two, the Indian cinema and the films from other third world countries. I was leading the latter, and we were almost bowled over seeing the supreme quality of films coming from the third world countries.
From more than 150 entries in this category, we could select only 14 of them. This was really a very tough job, to pick and choose the best amongst them for our audience.

Q. The film critics are of the opinion that the IFFK has now taken over even the film festival in Goa and is now the no.1 film festival in the country. How do you share the credit to this?

A. Yes, I had attended this year’s film festival at Goa. I too personally feel that IFFK is better than the Goa film festival. A huge share of the credit goes to the cine-literate population of Kerala. At the Goa film festival, they have their two main venues at a 1,217 seated multiplex and another 1,000 seated theatre of Kala academy. During all the screening days, most of the seats remain vacant. While in our film festival, in all the ten theatres, throughout the seven days of the fest, during all the five screenings of a day, 70% of the seats are filled. This by itself is evidence enough of the mass popularity we have attained in and outside the country within the past 15 years.

Apart from this, the Goa film festival with its huge budget has programmers traveling around the country to collect films. While, with our minimal budget we select the films for IFFK from the entries we receive. Yet, the world class appeal of our festival calls for numerous high quality entries flooding the Chalachitra Academy every year. This is made possible thanks to the enormous support of the film lovers worldwide, along with the committed work of all those who are dedicated to the making of the International Film Festival of Kerala. Hope this time also, we provide our audience with a wholesome film viewing experience.
I warmly welcome all the delegates to the 15th International Film Festival of Kerala!