The organisers of the second Bengalooru International Festival (Biffes) were on cloud nine at the end of it.
“It was a phenomenal success. Unfortunately, the Kannada film industry didn't make much use of it, as platform to network and market their films,” said V N Subba Rao, chairperson of the Festival.
Speaking to reporters at a press meet in Bangalore on Thursday, the organising committee of Biffes said that an estimated 75,000 people visited the festival this year.
“The screenings were packed. There was a huge amount of interest in the Festival by the youth, especially media students," said Mr Rao.
Eminent film maker and director of the Festival, Girish Kasarvalli said the Festival truly enjoyed an atmosphere of an international film festival. “There were people discussing the films after the screenings, not just on one or two days, but on all the seven days,” he said. He added that the objective of hosting an international film festival in Bangalore was to provide a platform for Kannada film industry to network and market their films besides bring the Festival to the City.
“We want it to become a resource point for Kannada films,” he said.
Missed opportunity
V S Suresh from the Kannada film industry, however lamented the fact that the Kannada film industry didn't utilise the platform well enough.
On the issue of documentary films, a new section added to the Festival this year, the organisers said they couldn't have been screened along with the feature films because they don't have that big an audience. “Most of the documentary films are activism-based and have a target audience,” he said.
An offshoot of the Festival is the study circle for media students specialising in film making at the premises of Suchitra Film Society.
“We have around 300 titles, on classic films already, will be adding around 50 more.  Those interested in viewing them can get the film screened at a price of Rs 50 per screening,” said Mr Rao.