JOIN USThe Swedish-Finnish co-production Bekas (Extreme Loneliness) by filmmaker Karzan Kader will flag off the sixth edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival (Biffes) 2013, on December 27.
Set in Iraqi Kurdistan, the film revolves around two shoeshine boys setting off for America on their donkey — Michael Jackon.
This touching, humorous, subtly political tale of two teenage boys embarking upon an impossible trek, will kick off the cinema carnival, which will see a galaxy of stars such as Kamal Haasan, actress MP Ramya, Sudeep, Radhika, Darshan, etc gracing the inaugural on December 26, in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Governor H R Bhardwaj. The guest of honour on that day when actress Radhika Pandit will light the lamp will be the renowned Iranian film director Pouran Derakhshandeh, whose powerful and much anticipated feature — Hush... Girls Don't Scream, which throws light on the global issue of paedophilia, forms part of the festival, due to showcase as many as 160 films during the week.
The film fest, according to Biffes Executive Director N R Vishu Kumar, will see as many as 12 foreign filmmakers, drawn from Iran, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines and Sri Lanka attending. Over 1,000 delegates have already registered for the festival on which the government will spend over Rs two crore. During the festival, films will be screened at Fun Cinemas on Cunningham Road, Inox Lido near Ulsoor, Sulochana Auditorium at Vartha Bhavan (Infantry Road) and Priyadarshini Auditorium at Badami House. The richly awarded and highly accoladed Australian feature film, The Rocket, shot in Laos and written and directed by Kim Mordaunt, revolves around a 10-year old, surviving twin, who, his superstitious grandmother, believes brings bad luck for the family. The compelling coming of age tale speaks of the boy’s adventures to overcome his blighted fate and his touching friendship with a young girl and her eccentric and colourful uncle. Purple will be the closing film and shown across several screens on January 2, 2014.
Besides the screening of films, the festival will host other related activities, including interaction with directors, master class discussions on various topics such as ‘Marketing Regional Films in International Markets’, ‘The Digital Experience: Talking Red, Alexa and Black Magic,’ focusing on changing film formats and ‘The Digital Edge: Sound Capture on Location.’
To attend master classes, register by e-mail at seminar@biffes.in or call 9845101811. According to artistic director H N Narahari Rao, the week-long screening schedule and the film festival catalogue is in the final stages of preparation. It will be available for the delegates by Wednesday.
There will be repeat screenings of popular films.