IFFK to be held in capital

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, OCT. 31. The Seventh International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK-2002), organised by the Kerala State Chalachitra Akademi, will be held here from March 29 to April 5.

At a press conference here on Wednesday, Mr. Adoor Gopalakrishnan, akademi chairman, said there was a proposal to make the State capital a permanent venue of the festival.

Suvarna Chakoram, the top prize of the festival would include a purse of Rs. 10 lakhs.

New Rajatha Chakoram awards for the best director (Rs. 3 lakhs) and excellence in any department (Rs. 2 lakhs), and an audience prize had been constituted.

Mr. Adoor said the awards would enhance the stature of the festival and attract the best of Afro-Asian and Latin American cinema. The Akademi proposed to introduce a nominal delegate fee. "We want the festival to be a serious affair that brings together committed students of cinema, filmmakers, technicians and discerning viewers."

As the Akademi's "main objective was the promotion of Malayalam cinema", the festival would have a section devoted to the best contemporary works. Films in this category would be electronically sub-titled, so that they may be presented to delegates from outside and international film selectors.

The proposed outlay for the Akademi's activities in the next five years was Rs. 23 crores. Of this, the activities in the coming year would take up Rs. 4.75 crores.

"The activities are being formulated with a long-term view," he said. A meeting will be held with film society activists on November 4 to initiate measures to revive the movement.

The Akademi proposed to construct a chain of mini theatres in the State, each with a capacity of 300 to 350 seats, for the sole promotion of good cinema. A film museum, appreciation programmes for university students, orientation programmes for professionals, and expansion of the archives, were on the cards.

The general council urged the Government to hand over the Kerala State Film Development Corporation-owned Kalabhavan theatre to the Akademi, so that it may be turned into a centre for good cinema.

Asked if was appropriate that the two State film bodies functioned under different Ministers, Mr. Adoor said it might be better if one single Minister handled both.

Mr. Adoor also welcomed the move in the State to increase the ticket prize of big-budget entertainers on the first few days after their release. "This is being done in many other States and is said to give an initial box-office advantage. As a filmmaker, I will always be happy if my film fetches more money, whatsoever the prize of the ticket be."

Mr. Rajeev Kumar, vice-chairman, Mr. Mohan Kumar, secretary, Mr. Kamal, general council member, and Ms. Bina Paul-Venugopal, IFFK deputy director, were also present at the press meet.

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Section  : Southern States
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