The change in venue of the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFF) has left people divided, with regular participants of the event expressing concerns about the new venue. Moving from its usual venue of Orion Mall, the 17th edition of BIFFes will be held at Lulu Mall from January 29 to February 06.
Playwright and screenwriter Abhishek Iyengar said, from an administrative perspective, the current venue may pose several challenges. “For more than a decade, Orion Mall staff members were trained to manually upload movies and do quality checks. Even Orion’s security personnel were trained to handle celebrities,” said Mr Iyengar, co-founder of theater company WeMoveTheatre.
“Even the biggest festivals like Cannes or Busan do not change venues due to structural convenience. All protocols are in place, and it is difficult to restart them at a new venue,” said Mr Iyengar, who was part of the organizing committee in previous editions.
Murali PB, Artistic Director of the 17th BIFF, is confident of a smooth event despite the change in venue. “As far as commuting is concerned, there is bus connectivity to Sujatha Theater stop, the nearest station to Lulu Mall. I understand that for those traveling by Green Line metro, they will have to change at Majestic, but then it is just a matter of one stop from there to reach Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna station, about 500 meters from the venue,” Mr Murali said.
Promising film screenings on all 11 screens of Lulu Mall, Mr Murali said a dedicated space has been booked on the first floor of the mall to conduct masterclasses. “We have a separate space to hold the press conference right in front of Lulu Mall,” he said.
The artistic director also assures discount rates for parking and dining at the mall. “Lulu Mall is close to bustling areas like Bashyam Circle and Magadi Road, where they get a lot of options for food.”
Film critic and activist K. Phaniraj said that the common delegates, who are the biggest stakeholders of the event, need to be kept in mind before the government takes such a major decision.
“They should think of providing free bus service every 15 to 20 minutes at relevant drop points. At the International Film Festival of India in Goa, buses cover 30 to 40 km. BIFF organizers can arrange for food stalls at affordable rates at the venue, as is the case at IFFK, Thiruvananthapuram. If the logistical demands of the delegates are considered, and suitable solutions are provided to their problems. If so, then changing location is not an issue.”
new attraction
At the 17th BIFFes this year, several restored versions of Dr. Rajkumar’s films are going to be screened. The event is also one day longer than in previous years. After the inauguration, the festival will run for eight days instead of seven.
published – December 25, 2025 09:49 PM IST