Reflecting on the increasing presence of women filmmakers in world cinema, the 19th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) will showcase works of over 20 women directors from across the globe.
The week-long movie gala, beginning on December 12, will screen the works of woman directors from various countries, including US, China, Japan, Turkey, France, Nigeria, Australia, Argentina, Croatia, Slovenia, Venezuela and Iran besides India.
According to Chalachitra Academy, the organisers of the event, the movies helmed by women are included in seven packages like World Cinema, International Competition, Contemporary Master, Chinese Film Package, French Film Package, Country Focus and Jury Session.
The World Cinema section will showcase 12 films by female directors, according to Academy sources. The works of Gillian Robespierre, Maria Gamboa, Chika Anadu, Dyana Gaye, Bety Reis, Natalia Smirnoff, Tatjana Bozic, Anne Weil, Sonja Prosenc, Claudia Pinto, Pascale Ferran and Narges Abyar will provide a novel visual experience for viewers in this category while Anu Menon will represent India in it with X-the Film, which she co-directed with a team of other filmmakers.
Moroccan-Iraqi director Tala Hadid's The Narrow Frame of Midnight and South Korea's July Jung's A Girl at My Door have found place in the International Competition section.
Acclaimed Japanese director Naomi Kawase's four films- Suzaku, Still the Water, Firefly and Hanezu - have been enlisted in the Contemporary Master category.
The Chinese Film Package will have Ann Hui's The Golden Era and Zhang Meng's Uncle Victory while the French Film Package will see the works by Justine Triet's Age of Panic, Marion Vernoux's Bright Days Ahead and Rebecca Zlotowski's Grand Central.
Yesim Ustaoglu's Pandora's Box will be screened in the "Country Focus: Turkey" package.
Critically acclaimed Marathi film Vastupurush (The Guardian Spirit of the House) by Indian director Sumitra Bhave, who is also one of the jury members of the present edition, have found place in the Jury Films, Academy sources added.
