Thiruvanananthapuram: Thiruvananthapuram: The 25th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) got off to a gala start with Kerala’s own global film carnival inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today.
The inaugural function organised at the Nishagandhi theatre in the evening was unique, with 25 lamps lit to symbolise the 25 years of the festival. Minister for Culture A. K. Balan presided over the function, which had Speaker of the Kerala Assembly P. Sriramakrishnan as the chief guest.
Veteran filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard was awarded the Lifetime Achievement for his contributions to the new wave film movement at the function. In his absence, renowned director Adoor Gopalakrishnan received the award on his behalf.
V.K.Prashanth MLA; M.Mukesh MLA; Arya Rajendran, Mayor, Corporation of Thiruvananthapuram; Rani George IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Cultural Affairs ; T.K.Rajeev Kumar, Former Chairman, Kerala State Chalachithra Academy; Kamal, Chairman, Kerala State Chalachithra Academy (KSCA); Beena Paul, Vice Chairperson, KSCA; and Ajoy Chandran, Secretary, KSCA; were among those present at the inaugural ceremony.
The function was followed by the screening of the opening movie of the festival, ‘Quo Vadis, Aida?’, directed by Jasmila Zbanic. The film depicts the aftermath of the Bosnian genocide through a new perspective, revealing the origins of international conflict and the futility of war.
