JOIN USBiffes from Feb 7-14
The Bengaluru International Film Festival (Biffes) will be held from February 7 to 14, 2019, and the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy has requested the government to frame rules to ensure the festival is held on the same dates every year.
Academy chairman and filmmaker Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar confirmed the dates on the Biffes website. He said fixing a calendar will bring international accreditation to the festival and insulate it from political developments.
“This is the 11th edition of the festival and it’s time it gets recognition among the global film fraternity. The accreditation will increase the variety of cinema and broaden the festival’s scope in the years to come. We have requested the government to pass an order in this regard,” he told DH but refused to reveal more details stating that it will be announced by the chief minister.
Sources said about 250 movies may be screened during the festival and popular films may get as much time and space as the serious ones. Asked about the prominence of popular movies, Chandrashekhar said the festival will be balanced in its approach.
“Both art cinema and popular movies will go hand in hand considering that the film industry supports these events. However, the emphasis is on aesthetics and there is no compromise. We have looked at the format of film festivals across the world. Besides the popular ones, there will be several movies in regional, national, Asian and international categories,” he said.
No fest in Mysuru
Chandrashekhar said the film festival will not be extended to Mysuru. “Many organisations from different towns have come, seeking to hold a film festival in their places as well. While I believe in taking movies to villages, Biffes is not the right event for that. Instead, we are trying to make the whole process as democratic as possible by involving all organisations and associations in Sandalwood,” he said.
Asked about the budget of the festival, he said the chief minister’s office had told them not to waste money on grandeur. “There are several pressing issues like floods in Kodagu, drought in other parts of the state and farmers’ distress. We will make every effort to keep the budget at the lowest,” he said.