2008 IFFK -an overview

Kerala, the land of God's own country,the land of hills and spectacular arts is going to witness the 13th IFFK festival, which begins on 12th Decmber2008 and ends on 19 thdecember 2008.The IFFK is a film festival held annually in Thiruvananthapuram.The film festival was started in 1996 and is produced by Kerala State Chalachitra Academy on behalf of the Department of Cultural Affairs of the State Government. The well-informed ,serious minded and dignified audience of Kerala is the success of this festival.
Retrospectives of filmmakers this year focus on Fernando Birri legendary Argentinian Director who is also the Chief Guest at the festival this year. This year Mr. Amos Gitai’s truly moving films will be screened. He will deliver the Aravindan Memorial Lecture on the 16th Dec 2008. This collection of films allows viewers a deep insight into the cinematic development of a contemporary auteur and his repertoire. The French New Wave maestro Alain Resnais finds a special place in this festival and each of the films selected are milestones of achievement not only by the director but for cinema itself, opening up the medium to its poetic possibilities. Contemporary filmmakers such as Idrissa Ouedraogo, Samira Makhmalbaf, Fatih Akin, Julio Medem, representing various trends in World Cinema, find a place in the programme. A special section on Indian Masters in Action will showcase the work of some masters of Indian Cinema. Bharatan the Malayalam outré who blazed the screen till the eighties is seen this year as the Malayalam Filmmaker in focus. Homage and Tributes this year have films by Yousiffe Chahine, Jules Dassin, Bharat Gopi, KT Mohammad and others who the world of cinema has lost this year. Contemporary World Cinema will bring the latest films from all over the world. And at last New Malayalam Cinemas from the local film industry. The Short films and Documentaries in film formats bring a select wonderful films from all over the world. Some surely make us realise that expression will have no boundaries in the future.A special attraction of this year’s festival is the Films from Russia in our Country Focus. Workshops and seminars and discussions on various issues in Cinema will as always liven up the IFFK.I'm also eagerly waiting to become a part of this world of Rainbows.

By Sreeja