Committee members of the 30th edition of the Kolkata International Film Festival unveiled the schedule and film lineup on November 29, 2024 in Kolkata. , Photo Courtesy: Debashish Bhaduri
The 30th edition of the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), starting on December 4, announced its lineup of 175 films from 29 countries and revealed France as the focus country of this year’s film festival.
The lineup includes 42 feature-length films, and 30 shorts and documentaries in competitive categories, and 103 films in non-competitive categories. The screening will take place between December 5 and 11 at 20 locations in different parts of the city.
“The French film selection offers a rich and varied cinematic experience with 21 different French films. These include contemporary French films, French classics, short films and documentaries by female directors,” said Nicolas Facino, director of the Alliance Française du Bengal. “Some contemporary French filmmakers are also coming to Kolkata to present their films at KIFF.”
He said KIFF will also showcase La Souriente Madame Beaudet (The Smiling Madame Beaudet), was a 1923 silent film made by pioneering feminist French filmmaker Germaine Dulac.
Notably, the festival will also screen classic Indian and international films as part of the centenary tribute to leading film personalities like Tapan Sinha, Marlon Brando, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Talat Mehmood, Mohammed Rafi, Sergei Parajanov, etc. Meanwhile, special tributes will be paid to Kumar Shahani, Alain Delon, Gautam Halder, Manoj Mitra and others.
“The 1966 film, Galpo Holeo Satti, directed by Tapan Sinha, will be the opening film of the 30th KIFF. It will be screened at the inaugural ceremony of KIFF on December 4 at 5.30 pm at Dhonho Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata, West Bengal minister and KIFF chief advisor Arup Biswas said on Friday.
Gautam Ghosh, Chairman of the 30th KIFF, highlighted that this year the festival will also showcase some films including the launch of celluloid originals like Chokh and Debshishu of the iconic 1980s director Utpalendu Chakraborty.
Like other years, the 30th edition of KIFF unveiled ‘Unheard India’, a non-competitive category that included screening of a number of films made in Indian languages such as Garhwali, Konkani and Tulu.
published – November 30, 2024 10:36 am IST
