Highlights of IFFK: Midnight screenings, 190 films from 65 countries

'The Insult', a Lebanese film, will open the fest.
Highlights of IFFK: Midnight screenings, 190 films from 65 countries
Highlights of IFFK: Midnight screenings, 190 films from 65 countries
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For film buffs, the International Film Festival Kerala (IFFK) is a visual extravanganza that brings under one roof movies of renowned filmmakers across the globe.

The 22nd edition of the popular fest, which is conducted every year in Thiruvananthapuram, will screen 190 films from 65 countries. The week-long fest begins on December 8 and will have 465 screenings. 

Lebanese filmmaker Ziad Doueiri’s The Insult which narrates the struggle of the Palestinian people will be the opening film. The Insult is based on the dispute between a Palestinian construction worker and a Lebanese Christian car mechanic. 

The upcoming edition of the IFFK will focus on people who have lost their identity and space. Six films will be screened in the section 'Identity and Space'. This year, Brazil is the country in focus.

Movies contesting for Golden Crown Pheasant Award

Fourteen films will contest for the prestigious Golden Crown Pheasant Award this year, including four Indian films - Kadvi Hawa (Dark Wind) and Newton from Hindi, and Randuper  and Aedan from Malayalam.  

Randuper (Two Persons), directed by Prem Shankar, is based on gender politics and relationships in the time of demonetisation. Aedan (Garden of Desire), directed by Sanju Surendran, is a journey to the contrasting worlds of love and death.

A Scene from Aedan

Newton, India’s official entry at the Oscars 2018, has been directed by Amit V Masurkar and is set against the backdrop of elections in a conflict zone in India. Kadvi Hawa, directed by Nila Madhab Panda, tells the story of the plight of farmers in Rajasthan.

The other films in the competition section are Candelaria by Jhonny Hendrix, Returnee by Sabit Kurmanbekov,  Grain by Semih Kaplanoglu, I Still Hide to Smoke by Rayhana, Malila- The Farewell Flower by Anucha Boonyawatana, Pomegranate Orchard by Ilgar Najaf, Symphony for Ana by E Ernesto Ardito, The World of Which We Dream Doesn’t Exis’ by Ayoub Qanir, Wajib by Annemarie Jacir, and White Bridge by Ali Ghavitan.

 Remembering the master   

Lino Brocka, Philippine director who fought for the freedom of expression in the Philippines, will be remembered at the fest. 

His three film will be screened in the section of ‘Remembering the Master’. 

“A radical filmmaker, Brocka made socially conscious films that explored the plight of the marginalised and ignored sections of Filipino society,” an IFFK statement says.  His classic Insiang, a 1976 film that portrays the themes of betrayal, revenge, and despair of relationship between a mother and daughter will be screened. Brocka’s  Maynila, sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag’ (‘Manila in the Claws of Light)’, and Cain and Abel are the other films that will be screened in this section.

 Midnight Screening

For the first time, the IFFK's upcoming edition will have midnight screenings. Nishagandhi, the open air auditorium in the capital city, will be utilised to screen popular films. There will be three screenings a day. The inaugural, as well as the valedictory ceremonies of the festival, will also be held at Nishagandhi.

Contemporary Masters in Focus

Under the 'Contemporary Film Maker in Focus', films made by African director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun and Mexican filmmaker Michel Franco will be screened. The films that will be screened in this section are Our Father, Grigris, Dry Season, Bye-Bye Africa, A Season in France, and A Screaming Man by Haroun, and After Lucia, Through The Eyes, Daniel and Ana, Chronic, and April’s Daughter by Franco.

Life Time Achievement Award

Russian filmmaker Alexander Sokurov has been chosen for the award this year. His movies Father and Son, Francophonia and Mother and Son and Russian Ark will be screened at the fest.

21 packages

This includes contemporary Asian Cinema, Restores Classics, Avalkkoppam (with her), Japanese Animation Films and Jury Films. Women-centric Malayalam films like Adaminte Variyellu and Avalude Ravukal will be screened at the Avalkkoppam package. Fourteen films will be screened as a part of the 'Indian Cinema Today' and 'Malayalam Cinema Now' sections.

Adaminte Variyellu 

In Retrospect

Malayalam’s filmmaker KP Kumaran’s four films- Aakasha Gopuram, Rugmini, Athithi and Thottam will be screened under the 'Retrospective' section. He is known for making films on social issues and the lives of women.

Jury

Film critic and director Marco Muller is the jury chairperson. TV Chandran, Marlon Moreno, Mary Stephen and Aboubacker Sanogo are jury members.

All Images: IFFK Website 

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