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Film Festivals: A Timeless Tradition

The 29th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) hosted a wrap-up session for the open forum on "The Role of Contemporary Films in Global Film Festivals" at the Tagore Theatre.

Renowned filmmaker Rima Das, director of the acclaimed film "Village Rockstars," shared her personal journey, citing Patrick Judd's phrase, "Act global, think local." Das reflected on her film career, which began at film festivals, and emphasized that her primary focus was on creating art rather than pursuing big-budget productions.

Kerala State Chalachithra Academy (KSCA) Chairman Premkumar highlighted the significance of film festivals as platforms where diverse perspectives converge. He noted that the collective experience of film enthusiasts watching a movie with a unified mindset is what makes film festivals successful. As long as this communal spirit endures, the importance of film festivals will remain unabated.

Curator Fernando Brenner added that film festivals also play a crucial role in the commercial promotion of films. He emphasized that these events serve as a vital window for showcasing exceptional cinema to audiences worldwide.

According to Festival curator Golda Sellam, film festivals are preparing a platform to bring together film lovers and filmmakers, meeting the needs of both groups. She also stated that IFFK can be as good as the Berlin, Venice, and Cannes International Film Festivals.

In the post-COVID era, even OTT and home theater have gained more space, yet the relevance of film festivals has not diminished, said KSCA Secretary C. Ajoy. He informed that plans have been initiated to make the upcoming 30th IFFK even better. He added that he expects more public participation than the 15,000 delegates who attended the festival this time. He assured that he will ensure more facilities by understanding their preferences and expressed his gratitude to them for enhancing the success of the festival.

 FFSI Secretary Reji M.D. stated that the cinema experience in a theater is full of various levels and will be different for each person.