2-day film fest on Bengaluru’s scientific heritage begins on Feb 1

Bengaluru: Science Gallery Bengaluru (SGB) will be hosting the 'Sci560 Film Festival' at the Bangalore International Centre (BIC) on Saturday and Sunday. 

The festival will feature a curated selection of films that explore Bengaluru's scientific heritage, urban narratives, and diverse identities. Ten documentary films on the theme of Bengaluru will be included in this. 

The films have been shortlisted through an open call process and selected by a jury composed of the Bangalore Film Forum and the Science Gallery Bengaluru team, the SGB said. 

The event will open with the screening of Nitya Misra's 'Down the Drain', a film shot through a commissioning grant awarded by the Science Gallery Bengaluru. The screening will be followed by a discussion featuring Nitya and socio-hydrologist Veena Srinivasan. 

In 'Search of Gold', a film by Basav Biradar, a documentary about the history and significance of the Kolar Gold Fields, will also be screened. A post-screening discussion will feature the filmmaker in conversation with physicists Nirmal Raj and Palahalli Vishwanath. 

In addition to the series of films and discussions, there will be a quiz on all things Bengaluru and a virtual scavenger hunt about the city. On both days, there will also be a series of interactive installations at BIC that invite the public to share memories, iconic spots, and soundscapes of the city. 

Gayatri Manu, programme manager, Science Gallery Bengaluru, said, "The Sci560 Film Festival brings together 20 films in four languages, each offering a unique lens on Bengaluru — its legacy as a science city, its thriving tech scene, its people, and its vibrant subcultures. This festival is about capturing the pulse of a city in motion through stories that resonate with its ever-evolving identity.” 

The event will be open to all, but participants will be required to register for free on the Science Gallery website.