The fifth edition of Bangalore International Film Festival will be inaugurated on Thursday at Jnanajyothi Auditorium by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar.

Eminent Japanese filmmaker Masahiro Kobayashi, whose Japan’s Tragedy is competing in the Asian Cinema section, will be the chief guest. The festival will be flagged off by Kauwboy by Boudewijn Koole of the Netherlands.

Union Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily will inaugurate the Centenary of Indian Cinema section on Friday, whose screenings of 12 representative films (including 3 Kannada) will be held at Sulochana Auditorium at Varta Bhavan on Infantry Road.

The festival will also see round-table sessions, seminars and two master
classes.

Master class

A master class by world renowned editor Andrew Bird on Creative Use of Sound in Motion Picture Editing is slated for Sunday, while another will be by Sanu John Varughese, pioneer of digital cinematography in India, on ‘The Digital Experience – How the New Age Camera is Changing Cinema from Script to Screen.’

Two round-table sessions on NETPAC and its role in promoting Asian cinema, seminar on Visual Effects and Cost Effective Scenic Enrichment in Post Production, are scheduled. All seminars and master classes will be held at Max Mueller Bhavan from December 23.

The festival, in a first, has also organised open air film screenings at Freedom Park where films like Bangarada Manushya, Nagarahaavu, Baasha, Sagara Sangamam will be screened in the evenings for the general public.

The fest will conclude with The Clown, a Brazilian film directed by Selton Mello, on December 27, when Governor H R Bhardwaj will present the awards to winners.

Releasing the screening schedule of the first three days, festival executive director N R Vishukumar said that about 900 people have registered so far, apart from special invitees.