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Programmes

“Cinema is an arc that moves with time and light,” says Rita Azevedo Gomes

In Conversation

“I don't like the term ‘women filmmaker,'" said Portuguese filmmaker Rita Azevedo Gomes while engaging with the public on the second day of IFFK in the session ‘In Conversation With Rita Gomes’. Her dislike towards the term ‘women filmmakers’ stems from her belief that the work women do should be attributed to them based on merit and not simply because of their gender.

She also discussed the art and politics in her cinema and explained how she had to overcome the set structures of patriarchy to become a filmmaker. She added that the spread of OTTs still comes with a pinch of salt, as contents like web series take away the wholesome experience of a full cinema. The session was hosted by journalist Saraswathy Nagarajan.

Kairali Sree Nila

02:30 | December 9, 2023

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Each voice needs to be heard in cinema, says Wanuri Kahiu

In Conversation

"Each individual and their space needs to be respected. People with different identities are to be heard, and their voices should be included in global cinema," said Kenyan director Wanuri Kahiu at the Open Forum hosted by Aswathy Gopalakrishnan, held as part of the 28th IFFK at Tagore Theatre on the topic 'Festival in Times of Racism, Genocide, and War'. Filmmakers should ensure that voices from diverse communities are properly addressed, Kahiu said, stressing the importance of art as a weapon of resistance against war. 

 

Kairali Sree Nila

02:30 | December 10, 2023

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Malayalam Cinema is experiencing only occasional changes, says Open Forum

Open Forum


The Malayalam film industry is merely accepting sporadic alterations; these changes are not director and writer-oriented. Director Santhosh Babusenan pointed out that even though the presentation aspect is varied, there is no significant shift in the content of films. He emphasized the absence of experimental films in Malayalam cinema.

Director Anand Ekarshi expressed that he doesn't create films with the sole purpose of pleasing the audience; rather, his films are rooted in his ideologies. Vignesh P Sasidharan attributed the slow pace of changes in Malayalam cinema to the constraints of big-budget productions, noting that the industry remains entangled in dramatic narratives. He also highlighted the prevailing perception that action movies are synonymous with RDX. Don Palathara remarked that although OTT films have found favor with audiences, the platform struggles to provide stability for such productions. The open forum, including participants Gagan Dev, Prashant Vijay, Renoshan, Sunil Malur, and KC Jithin, shed light on the current state of Malayalam cinema.

Tagore Theatre

05:00 | December 10, 2023

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Aravindan made Cinema of Integrity- Saeed Akhtar Mirza

Lecture

The Annual Aravindan Memorial Lecture, held at Nila Theatre as part of the 28th edition of IFFK, was honored with the presence of renowned director and Chairman of KSFDC, Shaji N Karun, and veteran director and Chairman of KR Narayanan Institute of Visual Science & Arts, Saeed Akhtar Mirza. The lecture included an enriching discussion reminiscing about the life and times of director Aravindan.

"The works of Aravindan are those of a man who sees cinema with integrity," Mirza observed. The lecture concluded with some personal thoughts from Mirza on the impact of technology in cinema and how it brings forth a culture of movies without memories. The lecture was attended by actor Joy Mathew and director T V Chandran.

Kairali Sree Nila

02:30 | December 11, 2023

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Civil war made me mentally impotent- Prasanna Vithanage

Masterclass

The accumulating guilt in my mind from witnessing the civil war had made me mentally impotent. I chose filmmaking as a medium to showcase my rage, and most of my characters have evolved from these circumstances," reveals Sri Lankan director Prasanna Vithanage. He spoke about his film 'Paradise' during the 'Masterclass' session held at Nila Theatre as part of IFFK on 12 December 2023. 

The Sri Lankan filmmaker, also a NETPAC jury member, shared his thoughts on the making of 'Paradise' and complimented the work of Malayalam actors Darshana Rajendran and Roshan Mathew, who played the lead roles in the movie.

Kairali Sree Nila

02:30 | December 12, 2023

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Cinema, like Maya or Light, reveals only a part of Reality- Pablo César

In Conversation

On the sixth day of the 28th IFFK, the "In Conversation" session featured Argentine filmmaker Pablo César and Boukary Sawadogo, Associate Professor of Cinema Studies at the City University of New York’s City College on December 13. With 48 years of cinematic experience, César illuminated Argentina’s dark history during the 1970s dictatorship, emphasizing the coexistence with the Black population. He revealed that half the country was once comprised of Blacks, showcasing a unique intersection of cultures. César highlighted the profound connection between cinema, history, and societal narratives, discussing his cross-cultural collaboration with Indian director Murali Nair. Sawadogo added a perspective on Argentina's visual representation, noting the absence of traces of Black people compared to countries like Brazil, echoing César’s view that nations are imaginary constructions.

Kairali Sree Nila

02:30 | December 13, 2023

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More women need to engage in the technical sector of Cinema- Shruthi Sharanyam

Masterclass

The Malayali filmmaker Shruthi Sharanyam opined that women are facing a lot of challenges in the film industry. She suggested that if more women enter the technical fields of cinema, fostering a woman-friendly environment could be instrumental in overcoming these obstacles.

She was speaking at the 'Master Class' session on 13 December along with IFFK curator Golda Sellam, director Jayan K Cheriyan, actor Anupriya Goenka, director Namita Lal and journalist Shwetha Bajaj. 

Shweta Bajaj expressed the inevitability of women's presence across all facets of cinema, emphasizing joint effort over competition between genders. Namita Lal reflected on the cinematic landscape of the 1950-70s, citing the era of Satyajit Ray, Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor, and Dev Anand as featuring strong and bold women characters. She noted a shift in later years towards the objectification and commodification of women in films. Jayan K Cherian opined that women centric films from a man's point of view are male-oriented hence cannot be called as feminocentric ones. Anupriya Goenka said that she had never faced the challenge of being a woman in her business life but had to face a lot after entering the film industry.

Hotel Horizon

11:00 | December 13, 2023

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Need to Consider Art as Art - Krzysztof Zanussi

In Conversation

Polish film and theatre director, producer, and screenwriter Krzysztof Zanussi emphasized that art should be seen solely as art and not as a political tool while speaking in the 28th IFFK's In Conversation session. He added that attempting to combine politics with films is a betrayal of creativity, asserting that political films, when combined with reality, result in distortion. According to him, one should not look for politics in Shakespeare's writings. 

Zanussi advised aspiring individuals in the film industry not to abandon the field due to temporary setbacks and encouraged them to continue their journey in pursuit of opportunities that arise after such challenging periods. He concluded by noting that dreams should be sought in the journey of life, and he believed that favourable opportunities would follow after encountering challenges. The session was moderated by CS Venkiteswaran.

Kairali Sree Nila

02:30 | December 14, 2023

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Without love, there is no scope for life - Zanussi

Masterclass

This year's Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Krzysztof Zanussi, revealed the theme of his upcoming film, stating, 'The central theme of my next film revolves around the changing times and how they manifest in the narrative. Time is subjective and in constant evolution, shaped by our perceptual aptitudes. It is not a fixed reality but rather relative. Quantum physics posits the existence of a future for the universe, and individuals may apprehend aspects of the future through intuition or conceptual frameworks. The universe remains enigmatic beyond our comprehension. Those who recognize the profundity of the universe represent the progressive thinkers of today. The intricacies of the universe surpass our immediate perception, and contemporary progressive minds acknowledge its depth. The essence of profundity, encapsulating time and life, serves as the overarching theme in my mind." He was speaking on the final day of the 28th Kerala International Film Festival during the 'Master Class' session.

Regarding life's purpose, he expressed that without love, life lacks prospect. "The most crucial aspect of cinema is storytelling," he affirmed. In response to the question of what constitutes good cinema, Zanussi added, "A theatrical background enhances an actor's quality. The genuine impact of certain individuals in performance is exceptional. Portraying emotions that transcend the reach of others constitutes the actor's true responsibility."

Hotel Horizon

11:00 | December 15, 2023

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