Kochi: 25th International Film Festival of Kerala opens today with Bosnian film

KOCHI

: The mirror edition of the 25th International Film Festival of Kerala (

IFFK

), to be opened by minister for culture A K Balan on Wednesday, is returning to the city after a gap of 22 years.


Kochi had hosted the festival for the first time in 1999, the year in which the

Chalachitra Academy

was formed, and the festival received the accreditation of International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations (FIAPF).

A line-up of 80

films

are awaiting film enthusiasts at the festival, which is being organized following strict Covid-19 protocol, said Chalachitra Academy chairman Kamal.

The inaugural ceremony, to be presided over by T J Vinod MLA, will begin with the lighting of 25 lamps by eminent film personalities to mark the last two-and-a-half decades of the IFFK.

The first copy of the festival bulletin will be given to FEFKA general secretary B Unnikrishnan by Kochi mayor M Anil Kumar.

The film screenings would begin at 9.15am and a total of six theatres — Kavitha, Padma, Sridar and the three-screen Sarita, Savita Sangeetha — have been readied for the festival. The Bosnian film ‘Quo Vadis, Aida?’ directed by Jasmila Zbanic which depicts the aftermath of the Bosnian genocide would be screened as the opening film at Sarita theatre. Five counters are arranged at the Sarita Savita Sangeetha theatre complex for the

pass distribution

.

The passes will be distributed from 9am till 7pm. Delegates will be able to receive their kit only after submitting the Covid-19 negative certificates. Academy officials said around 2,300 delegates have already registered for the event.

Veteran film producer and distributer Siyad Koker inaugurated the festival office at the Saritha theatre complex. Former diplomat

Venu Rajamony

opened the media cell of the IFFK.