Delegate registration for IFFK to begin on November 1

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:   The offline delegate registration for the 23rd International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) will begin from November 1. Unlike previous years, the offline registration will be done through five regional centres of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. The festival, which has been cut short to seven days, will begin on December 7 and conclude on December 13.

The region centres are Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur. The online registration will begin from November 10 and the academy has decided not to distribute free passes except for guests. According to Chalachitra Academy chairman Kamal, 2,500 delegate passes will be sold through the centres. Each centre will distribute 500 passes, of which 200 have been reserved for senior citizens above the age of 50.

The delegate fee has been increased to Rs 2,000 in a bid to reduce government expenses in the wake of the deluge. For students, the rate will be half of the delegate fee.“In these peculiar circumstances, we had to increase the rate of delegate passes and cut down many components in the usual festival. However, we will never compromise on the quality of films to be screened,” said Kamal.

“The selection of films is in the final stage and there will be no change in screens. This year, we will introduce a new award for the best Malayalam film in memory of former academy chairman late K R Mohanan,” he said. The academy will also organise a campaign called IFFK challenge to woo delegates in the light of increased prices. A relief box will be kept at all venues to make contributions towards flood relief. The academy officials are in talks with sponsors to raise more funds for the smooth conduct of the festival. A clear picture regarding sponsorship will emerge within 10 days, said Kamal.

For the first time, 14 Malayalam films will be screened. Twelve will be screened in the Malayalam Cinema Today category, of which 10 are made by debut filmmakers. A selection panel led by director Sibi Malayil, George Kithu, Farooq Abdul Rahman, T Anitha Kumari and V Mohanakrishnan have selected the Malayalam films.

The two films selected for the competition section are ‘Sudani from Nigeria’ directed by Zakariah and ‘Ee. Maa. Yau.’ directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery.As part of reducing expenses, the Kerala State Film Development Corporation has offered to screen films at its theatres free of cost. Kamal has requested private theatres to come with a similar gesture. He also requested the media not to request for free passes this year. The main venue will be Tagore Theatre and the inaugural and concluding ceremonies will be held at Nishangandhi auditorium.

THE CHOSEN ONES
Films to be screened in the Malayalam Cinema Today category
Oathu - P K Bijukuttan
Parava - Soubin Shahir
Bhayanakam - Jayaraj
Udalazham - Unnikrishnan Avala
Mayaanadhi - Aashiq Abu
Bilathikuzhal - A K Vinu
Prathibhasam - Vipin Vijay
Eeda - B Ajith Kumar
Kottayam - Binu Bhaskar
Humans of Someone - Sumesh Lal
Sleeplessly Yours - Gowtham Surya
Ave Maria - Vipin Radhakrishnan