Rs 25 lakh govt grant for Chennai International Film Fest

CHENNAI: Even as the Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation (ICAF) plans to screen The Class,' which won the best film award at Cannes this year at the sixth edition of the Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF), the state government has stepped in with a grant of Rs 25 lakh. "Many other states have state support to run international film festivals and it is good that it is happening in Tamil Nadu as well," said ICAF vice president S Ve Shekar.
CIFF, being held from December 17 to 26, will showcase 110 films from 34 countries, with close to a dozen foreign delegates participating.The fest has screened some of the best films, including the Academy award winning Volver' in 2003, and the 2007 Academy award winner Lives of Others' ( best foreign film). This year's menu includes the Turkish film, Three Monkeys' on the closing day. "Efforts are on to bring the critically acclaimed Iranian film, The Song of Sparrow' as well," said E Thangaraj, festival director. Tamil entries include Subramaniapuram,' Anjathey' and Poo.' The organisers are also likely to screen Kanchipuram,' a period film on the weavers of the town famous for its sarees.
The movies will be screened at Woodlands, Woodlands Symphony and the South Indian Film Chamber premises. A free print of many of the films is being made available to the MGR Film and Television Institute. Registration fee is Rs 500 for the public and Rs 300 for students. Five shows will be screened in every theatre, and the schedule will be posted on, www.chennaifilmfest.org , five days in advance.
A talent campus, being organised along the sidelines, has received 100 entries, later pruned to 25, said S Santhanam, film advisor. Aimed at encouraging raw talent, selected candidates will be given a day to shoot a 10-minute film, and another to edit it. Ten films, made by students of L V Prasad Film and Television Academy will be screened during the fest.
Tamil Nadu had earlier waived the entertainment tax for the industry. The funding has been welcomed by the film industry, including editor-director B Lenin, who in the past has been critical of the government's lack of encouragement to quality films. "Much more needs to be done for the city's movie buffs," he said.
eom/bdr