Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Dec 23: The 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) will be held from January 29 to February 6, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Monday, describing the event as a major platform celebrating global and Indian cinema. Senior actor Prakash Raj has been appointed as the ambassador of this year’s festival.
Briefing the media after a preliminary review meeting at the Vidhana Soudha committee hall, the chief minister said the festival inauguration will take place on the steps in front of Vidhana Soudha, lending a ceremonial grandeur to the opening. Film screenings will be organised across 11 screens at Cinepolis in Lulu Mall, Rajajinagar, he added.
Siddaramaiah said the application process for the Asian, Indian and Kannada competitive sections has commenced and has received an encouraging response from filmmakers. More than 110 films have already been submitted in these three competitive categories. He noted that January 11 is the last date for submission of entries to the competitive sections.
In addition to Lulu Mall, film screenings will also be held at the Dr Rajkumar Bhavan of the Karnataka Film Artistes’ Association in Chamarajapet and the Suchitra Film Society in Banashankari. The festival will feature over 200 films from more than 60 countries, with in excess of 400 screenings, including Kannada and Indian productions.
The chief minister said films showcased at prestigious international film festivals across the world will be screened during BIFFES. He further announced that shortlisted films from various countries for this year’s Academy Awards (Oscars) will also be presented to audiences.
Highlighting the cultural significance of the festival, Siddaramaiah said a photography exhibition tracing 91 years of Kannada cinema will be organised, showcasing key milestones of its vibrant and memorable film heritage.
The chief minister also announced that the state government has sanctioned a grant of Rs 7 crore for the successful conduct of the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival.