Ninth edition of IDSFFK begins in city

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Adhering to its theme of

wildlife

, ninth

edition

of

International

Documentary and Short

Film Festival

of Kerala donned the colour green in every aspect. In the background music created with sounds of animals and birds, the festival was inaugurated by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Kairali Theatre on Friday.


“Camera is not only a technical equipment, but also a tool for protest. When films are made in certain limitations or following guidelines,

documentary

find the visuals beyond it. Along with politics, there is intervention of documentaries in social issues. What information people with vested interest try to hide, should be publicised through documentaries. Documentaries play a pivotal role in preserving traditional art forms and jobs for the future,” said Pinarayi Vijayan in his inaugural address.


A total of 204 films will be screened in four day-long IDSFFK. These include 82 films in competition category; films of Padma shri recipient Aribam Syam Sharma in retrospective and films by Sanjay Kak and Wang Bing in filmmaker in focus. Short films from Latin American countries; Beej, screening of short films by well-known filmmakers from country which will be curated by Marathi film director Umesh Kulkarni; touring package Quay Brothers in 35mm curated by Christopher Nolan and package from Oberhausen festival are some of the highlight of this edition.
Minister for culture A K Balan released the festival book in the event by handing over the first copy to actress Tannishtha Chatterjee, who was the chief guest of the event. Mayor V K Prasanth released the festival bulletin.


A K Balan minister for culture affair said that the government will realize the promises made in the manifesto to complete the construction of a venue for film festivals, increase the revenue of native filmmakers as time bound projects. Mayor V K Prasanth requested the department of culture to organize a screening of documentaries on wildlife for school students.


MLA V S Sivakumar, chairman of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy T Rajeev Nath, secretary R Rajmohan, secretary of culture department Rani George and councillor Adv Jayalekshmi were present the event.
The inaugural ceremony was followed by the screening of the film ‘Day One’ directed by Henry Hughes and ‘He Named me Malala’ directed by Davis Guggenhein.