Prakash Raj demands for films from Palestine at BIFFes

As the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) opened amid much anticipation at the Vidhana Soudha on Thursday, it also became the site of a debate on artistic freedom, sparked by actor Prakash Raj. Questioning the decision to stall the screening of Palestinian films at the festival, Prakash urged the Karnataka government to reconsider and allow the films to be showcased. Reflecting on his long association with BIFFES, he said, “I came here 16 years ago. Today, I see far greater political intervention in film festivals, and Palestinian films are now being stalled.” The state government must take a strong stand in support of screening films from Palestine: Prakash RajReferring to a recent incident at the Kerala Literature Festival, where Palestinian films were initially barred, Prakash said the Kerala government had taken a firm stand against the ban. “The government ensured the films were screened. I want the Karnataka government to do the same. I request, and also demand, that the state government protest against such bans and take a strong stand in support of screening these films,” he said.Calling international festivals spaces for shared human experiences, Prakash added, “International festivals are meant to build bonds through stories. Stories from our land, like Edeya Hanathe (Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq), are accepted across the world, and we celebrate it when such works receive international recognition. But if we cannot bring stories of others’ pain to our own soil, how can that be justified?” To underscore his point, he also read out The War Will End by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, framing art as a bridge between cultures rather than a casualty of political boundaries.We are still awaiting permission from Palestine to screen their films: BIFFesWhile Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in his inaugural address, spoke about cinema’s role in reflecting society and fostering cultural dialogue, he did not directly address the issue of screening Palestinian films. Even as questions around artistic freedom persist, BIFFes is yet to take a final call on the screenings. Speaking to Bangalore Times on Friday morning, Murali P B, artistic director of the festival, said efforts were ongoing. “We have been trying our best to screen Palestinian films at the festival for a long time. However, we require permission from the Ministry of External Affairs to screen films from Palestine, which we are yet to receive. We will continue to reach out to the Ministry and seek permission,” he said.