Curtains on week-long Biffes in Mysuru today

CM to inaugurate valedictory, eight awards to be presented

After a week-long spectacle of films, curtain falls on Bengaluru International Film Festival (Biffes-2016) on Friday. The City of Palaces, Mysuru, is all set to host the valedictory programme on Amba Vilas Palace premises at 5.30 pm.

The festival which started on January 28 in Bengaluru, assumed significance this year, as it was extended to Mysuru. On Thursday, the eve of the ceremony, brisk preparations were on to give finishing touches to the stage, designed on the lines of the durbar hall of the Palace.

Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy Chairman S V Rajendra Singh Babu told media, on Thursday, true to its name, the festival would be restricted to awards ceremony. Awards, along with cash prizes, totalling Rs 15 lakh, will be presented during the event. A jury consisting of eminent directors like Girish Kasaravalli and Shaji Karun will decide on the best of the movies in different categories, including Kannada films. In all, eight awards will be presented.

Unlike in previous years, when the total prize money was Rs 11 lakh, it has been hiked to Rs 15 lakh this year, said Babu replying to a query.

Babu was happy to note that the response was overwhelming with the organisers forced to arrange for multiple screening of ‘Thithi’, a Kannada film.

The film was screened thrice for overcrowded audience. Moreover, it was a first-of-its-kind arrangement with films, 140 in different languages and screened 20 movies per day, simultaneously in Bengaluru (11 screens at PVR Cinemas, Orion Mall, Rajajinagar) and four screens in Mysuru (Inox, Mall of Mysore, M G Road), said Babu.

Ceremony
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate the valedictory ceremony. Information and Public Relations Minister R Roshan Baig will deliver the keynote address, while Krishnaraja MLA M K Somashekar will preside over. Actor and Housing Minister Ambareesh, Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad, Cooperation Minister H S Mahadev Prasad and a host of Cabinet ministers are expected to take part, said Babu.

The event is expected to be wound up in one-and-a-half hours. There will be no cultural programmes as in other such events, clarified Babu.

For public
Deputy Director for Information and Public Relations A R Prakash said, seating arrangements have been made for 5,000 people.

“While a total of 1,500 invitees are expected, entry for public is free from Jayamarthanda Gate side (opposite Doddakere Grounds). For VIPs and media, entry is from Karikal Thotti Gate (opposite Mysuru City Corporation office) side. Parking arrangements have been made near the entry points,”  Prakash added.