The Biffes showcases films from many parts of the world.
Bangalore:
The Bengaluru International Film Festival (Biffes) opened on a glittering note on December 23 with hundreds of cine buffs thronging the venue for the inaugural event where Tollywood superstar Kamal Haasan was the cynosure of all eyes.
Organized by the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy in association with the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce and the state information department, the sixth edition of the fest would be showcasing 152 films from 45 countries over seven days on nine screens, including multiplexes in the city centre.
The films have been selected by an expert committee and categorized under Cinema of the World, Asian Cinema, Indian Cinema, Kannada Cinema, Retrospectives, Country Focus, NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) award winners, The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) award winners and Special Genre.
"The Kannada film industry made signal contribution to the quality and range of cinematic expression and has grown to produce about 100 films every year. Our films have also won national and international recognition and critical acclaim at various film fests," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said at the inaugural ceremony.
Apart from screening five films a day, the fest is hosting academic interactions through seminars, workshops and master classes for students on different aspects of cinema."Competition sections for Indian Cinema and Kannada Cinema has cash prizes and a special award from NETPAC for Asian Cinema," said festival director KR Niranjan.
An Iraqi film Bekas directed by Karzan Kader was screened as the inaugural picture.
Besides Hassan, Kannada's popular film stars who are cabinet ministers in the ruling Congress government - Ambareesh and Umashree, Ramya, a Congress Lok Sabha lawmaker and Kannada cine actor Radhika Pandit were present at the colourful ceremony.
The Indian fare includes Hindi film Dozakah: In Search of Heaven, directed by Zaigham Imam and Marathi film Astu by Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Sukhtankar.
Bengali film Apur Panchali by Kaushik Ganguli, is another award-winning film to be screened along with a Kashmiri film Partav: The Influence, which is the first from the northern state to be screened at an international fest.
In the world section, the cine buffs will get to watch Iranian film Hush! Girls Don't Scream by Pouran Derakhshandeh, Palestinian film Giruffada by Rani Massalha, Chilean film The Passion of Michelangelo by Esteban Larrian, Japanese film Like Father, Like Son by Hirokazu Koreeda and Saudi Arabian film Wadjda by Haifaa Al-Mansour among other films.
Organized by the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy in association with the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce and the state information department, the sixth edition of the fest would be showcasing 152 films from 45 countries over seven days on nine screens, including multiplexes in the city centre.
The films have been selected by an expert committee and categorized under Cinema of the World, Asian Cinema, Indian Cinema, Kannada Cinema, Retrospectives, Country Focus, NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) award winners, The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) award winners and Special Genre.
"The Kannada film industry made signal contribution to the quality and range of cinematic expression and has grown to produce about 100 films every year. Our films have also won national and international recognition and critical acclaim at various film fests," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said at the inaugural ceremony.
Apart from screening five films a day, the fest is hosting academic interactions through seminars, workshops and master classes for students on different aspects of cinema."Competition sections for Indian Cinema and Kannada Cinema has cash prizes and a special award from NETPAC for Asian Cinema," said festival director KR Niranjan.
An Iraqi film Bekas directed by Karzan Kader was screened as the inaugural picture.
Besides Hassan, Kannada's popular film stars who are cabinet ministers in the ruling Congress government - Ambareesh and Umashree, Ramya, a Congress Lok Sabha lawmaker and Kannada cine actor Radhika Pandit were present at the colourful ceremony.
The Indian fare includes Hindi film Dozakah: In Search of Heaven, directed by Zaigham Imam and Marathi film Astu by Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Sukhtankar.
Bengali film Apur Panchali by Kaushik Ganguli, is another award-winning film to be screened along with a Kashmiri film Partav: The Influence, which is the first from the northern state to be screened at an international fest.
In the world section, the cine buffs will get to watch Iranian film Hush! Girls Don't Scream by Pouran Derakhshandeh, Palestinian film Giruffada by Rani Massalha, Chilean film The Passion of Michelangelo by Esteban Larrian, Japanese film Like Father, Like Son by Hirokazu Koreeda and Saudi Arabian film Wadjda by Haifaa Al-Mansour among other films.
