Bengaluru film festival postponed due to surge in Covid cases

Karnataka government on Monday postponed the 13th edition of Bengaluru International Film Festival (Biffes) initially scheduled between March 24 and 31 for an indefinite period in the wake of increasing cases of Covid-19.

Members of the core committee took a unanimous decision at a meeting headed by the principal secretary of the Department of Information and Public Relations in Bengaluru on Monday recommending postponement of the Biffes. Following the committee's recommendation, the government deferred the 13th edition of Biffes on the grounds that the 'atmosphere is not congenial' to hold the mega event.

"The Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy had written a letter to the technical committee of the health and family welfare department seeking advice to hold the Biffes. Quoting that the 'atmosphere is not congenial', the committee recommended the KCA to defer the event," Suneel Puranik, the Academy chairperson, told DH.

He added, "We will seek the advice of the experts, take a decision and announce the fresh dates soon."

Based on the suggestion, the health and the family welfare department had recommended to the government to defer the event or introduce a guideline restricting the entry of participants at 500. Vidyashankar Jois, Biffes Artistic Director, told the government that over 7,000 persons from Karnataka, India and other parts of the world were expected to attend. It was impossible to follow the guideline.