The three-day Manipal International Film Festival, organised by Manipal School of Communication and Udupi Chitra Samaj, was inaugurated in Manipal on Friday.

Speaking after inaugurating the film festival, Film Maker Girish Kasaravalli said that the film festivals help in developing taste for quality films from different languages and different parts of the country.

The history of film festival dates back to several decades when it was first started in Mumbai. There were lot of debates on the need for organising such film festivals. Now, the film festivals are held in Delhi, Kolkatta, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore, Pune and so on.

Kasaravalli said film festivals helps in viewing art movies. It is not only entertaining but also educative and informative. In India, films are considered as a medium of entertainment. However, in foreign countries, they are a medium to send a message to the society in general. Films help in building healthy relations in the society.

The international film festival had broadened the horizons of filmmakers in India six decades ago. This also led to filmmakers such as Mrinal Sen, Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak and others to make quality films, which were hailed not only in India but all over the world.

Organising the film festival in Manipal University will expose the students to the best of the films being made in different parts of the world.

Manipal University Pro Vice Chancellor Dr Vinod Bhat said that screening of best films from different parts of the world would help in improving the knowledge of the students. Manipal School of Communication Director Varadesh Hiregange also spoke. ‘Lucia’ movie was screened.

On the second day, ‘A rainy day,’ ‘Samhitha,’ ‘Gubbachigalu,’ ‘Paradise Now,’ ‘Thangameengal,’ ‘Ananthamurthy, A hypothesis,’ ‘Asthu.’ ‘Reclamation,’ ‘Hush!! Girls Dont Scream,’ ‘Manuscripts dont burn’ and ‘Ilo ilo’ was screened.