The 26th International Film Festival kicks off from March 18 to March 25 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala showcasing the resurgence of people in crisis due to the pandemic and war.
The eight-day festival will feature over 180 films in 15 theatres. This time, over ten thousand delegates will be allowed to attend the fest. A full occupancy in theatres is allocated for the first time since the covid pandemic. The fest comprises seven packages, including an international competition category, a world cinema category featuring the most recent films from world-renowned directors, Indian Cinema Now, Malayalam Cinema Today, a retrieval of classics, and a tribute to Nedumudi Venu.
The Films from Conflict package, which depicts life in conflict-torn countries, is the fest’s main attraction. It includes films from Afghanistan, Burma, and Kurdistan, the countries facing disruption in peace due to internal conflicts. The FIPRESCI Critics' Week will feature a package of films that have won FIPRESCI awards at various international festivals over the past two years. This time, a retrospective tribute to late actor Nedumudi Venu is also included.
Anatolian Leopard, directed by Turkish director Emer Cayce, Camila Comes Out to Net by Clara Zola, Dina Emir's You Resemble Me, Nishidho, Habitat Strategy, and Pebbles will be among the films in the international competition.
Films from Conflict include the Afghan film Drowning in Holy Water, Siddique Burmak's Opium War, the Kurdish film Kilometer Zero, Marooned in Iraq and Money Has Legs, a Myanmar film. Film Academy Secretary C Ajoy says that the fest is being held in compliance with Covid norms and masks are made mandatory for delegates.
