<p>The Bengaluru International Film Festival on Wednesday revealed the lineup for its 16th edition. About 200 films are set to be screened across various sections. </p><p>This year, the curation features some brilliantly made films discussing stories of existentialism. Whether it’s the Afghan refugees in Iran or a young stripper in Brooklyn with an American dream, the stories are poignant, empathetic and revolutionary. </p><p>One of the much acclaimed films of 2024’s festival circuit, ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig’, is set in modern day Iran where protests against the Islamic authoritarian government have intensified. ‘Reading Lolita in Tehran’ (adaptation of a book by the same name, written by Azar Nafisi) on the other hand is a heartbreaking recount of the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Iran. </p>.<p>Afghans refer to Iran as the ‘land of the brothers’ as many Afghan refugees have sought shelter in the country. But ‘In the Land of Brothers’ shows the harsh realities the refugees face in the country — from sexual exploitation to threats of being deported, the stories are heartbreaking. </p>.BIFFes announces lineup; delegate registration open.<p>Orchards hold a sentimental value — whether it’s the lush pomegranate orchard in ‘Pomegranate Orchard’ (2017) or the lemon groves in ‘Lemon Tree’ (2008). ‘The Paradise of Thorns’ is set in the backdrop of a durian orchard and presents a social commentary about the trouble married homosexual couples face while inheriting property. Similar sentiments are explored in ‘All Shall be Well’, a Cantonese film from Hong Kong. </p><p>There has been a steady rise in queer films in the last few years. Queer Palm (Cannes FF) winner ‘Three Kilometres to the End of the World’ is set in a conservative community where a 17-year-old is a victim of gay-bashing. The French musical crime thriller ‘Emilia Pérez’ follows a cartel kingpin who dreams of being a woman and opts for a sex-affirming surgery. And a pansexual woman in the Icelandic film ‘When the Light Breaks’, has to keep her emotions under wraps when her secret boyfriend dies in a tunnel disaster. </p>.<p>A 23-year-old stripper’s American dream is threatened when her oligarch husband’s parents set out to annul their marriage in the Palme dO’r winner ‘Anora’ that makes a critical commentary on capitalism.</p><p>‘NAWI: Dear Future Me’, a coming of age drama set in a remote village in the Turkana region of Kenya shows the stark reality of the lives led by girl children. The complexities of human relationships and personal struggles are explored through a palliative care nurse in ‘Ivo’. </p><p>Motifs of human-animal relationships have been explored in many films. The life of a man just released from prison and his bond with a rabid black dog forms the premise in ‘Black Dog’, a heartwarming tale set amidst the breathtaking landscapes of the sprawling Gobi Desert. ‘Through Rocks and Clouds’ tells the tale of an eight-year-old football enthusiast who has lengthy football conversations with his two friends, Ronaldo (an alpaca) and Rambo (a wild dog). Their peaceful lives are hindered when a mining company wants to buy their lands. </p><p>Political films like ‘The New Year That Never Came’, ‘From Hilde With Love’, ‘I’m Still Here’ and ‘Happy Holidays’ have garnered acclaim in the 2024 festival circuit. While ‘Happy Holidays’ discusses patriarchy and militarisation of Israeli society, ‘The New Year That Never Came’ discusses the Revolution of 1989 in Romania. The German biographical film ‘From Hilde With Love’ looks at the lives of anti-fascist members during the Nazi regime. And ‘I’m Still Here’ shows an activist coping with the enforced disappearance of her husband during the military dictatorship in Brazil.</p><p>BIFFes is set to be held between March 1 and 8 in Bengaluru.</p>
<p>The Bengaluru International Film Festival on Wednesday revealed the lineup for its 16th edition. About 200 films are set to be screened across various sections. </p><p>This year, the curation features some brilliantly made films discussing stories of existentialism. Whether it’s the Afghan refugees in Iran or a young stripper in Brooklyn with an American dream, the stories are poignant, empathetic and revolutionary. </p><p>One of the much acclaimed films of 2024’s festival circuit, ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig’, is set in modern day Iran where protests against the Islamic authoritarian government have intensified. ‘Reading Lolita in Tehran’ (adaptation of a book by the same name, written by Azar Nafisi) on the other hand is a heartbreaking recount of the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Iran. </p>.<p>Afghans refer to Iran as the ‘land of the brothers’ as many Afghan refugees have sought shelter in the country. But ‘In the Land of Brothers’ shows the harsh realities the refugees face in the country — from sexual exploitation to threats of being deported, the stories are heartbreaking. </p>.BIFFes announces lineup; delegate registration open.<p>Orchards hold a sentimental value — whether it’s the lush pomegranate orchard in ‘Pomegranate Orchard’ (2017) or the lemon groves in ‘Lemon Tree’ (2008). ‘The Paradise of Thorns’ is set in the backdrop of a durian orchard and presents a social commentary about the trouble married homosexual couples face while inheriting property. Similar sentiments are explored in ‘All Shall be Well’, a Cantonese film from Hong Kong. </p><p>There has been a steady rise in queer films in the last few years. Queer Palm (Cannes FF) winner ‘Three Kilometres to the End of the World’ is set in a conservative community where a 17-year-old is a victim of gay-bashing. The French musical crime thriller ‘Emilia Pérez’ follows a cartel kingpin who dreams of being a woman and opts for a sex-affirming surgery. And a pansexual woman in the Icelandic film ‘When the Light Breaks’, has to keep her emotions under wraps when her secret boyfriend dies in a tunnel disaster. </p>.<p>A 23-year-old stripper’s American dream is threatened when her oligarch husband’s parents set out to annul their marriage in the Palme dO’r winner ‘Anora’ that makes a critical commentary on capitalism.</p><p>‘NAWI: Dear Future Me’, a coming of age drama set in a remote village in the Turkana region of Kenya shows the stark reality of the lives led by girl children. The complexities of human relationships and personal struggles are explored through a palliative care nurse in ‘Ivo’. </p><p>Motifs of human-animal relationships have been explored in many films. The life of a man just released from prison and his bond with a rabid black dog forms the premise in ‘Black Dog’, a heartwarming tale set amidst the breathtaking landscapes of the sprawling Gobi Desert. ‘Through Rocks and Clouds’ tells the tale of an eight-year-old football enthusiast who has lengthy football conversations with his two friends, Ronaldo (an alpaca) and Rambo (a wild dog). Their peaceful lives are hindered when a mining company wants to buy their lands. </p><p>Political films like ‘The New Year That Never Came’, ‘From Hilde With Love’, ‘I’m Still Here’ and ‘Happy Holidays’ have garnered acclaim in the 2024 festival circuit. While ‘Happy Holidays’ discusses patriarchy and militarisation of Israeli society, ‘The New Year That Never Came’ discusses the Revolution of 1989 in Romania. The German biographical film ‘From Hilde With Love’ looks at the lives of anti-fascist members during the Nazi regime. And ‘I’m Still Here’ shows an activist coping with the enforced disappearance of her husband during the military dictatorship in Brazil.</p><p>BIFFes is set to be held between March 1 and 8 in Bengaluru.</p>