CM Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurates 29th International Film Festival of Kerala

Hong Kong filmmaker Ann Hui (right) receives the Life Time Achievement award from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the presence of actor Shabana Azmi (extreme left), Kerala State Film Academy Interim chairman Prem Kumar, Minister of culture and youth affairs Saji Cherian during the 29th International Film Festival of Kerala at Nishagandhi auditorium in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday.
| Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN

Calling on filmmakers to create diverse films reflecting social realities to counter attempts to present a monolithic view, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has cautioned against attempts by corporates to dictate content. He was speaking after inaugurating the 29th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) at the Nishagandhi auditorium here on Friday.

“It is natural that corporates will enter the film field, but if they exert pressure to create films
aimed at propagating a particular narrative or films to suit their interests, it has to be viewed seriously. It will only lead to the destruction of cinema as a medium. Cinema has grown only when it has handled diverse subjects,” he said.

He said that the IFFK has forged ahead, becoming one of the festivals with strong political content. The festival had expressed solidarity with Palestine in its previous edition. In the one year since then, the situation there has worsened. The IFFK has always stood with the oppressed to bring their plight to the wider world, he said.

Mr. Vijayan presented the IFFK Lifetime Achievement Award for the year to Ann Hui, one of the pioneers of Hong Kong new wave cinema.

Ms. Hui, in her acceptance speech, said that she would like to share the award, the first lifetime achievement award that has been given to her, with the audience that has supported her films. “It is not just the filmmakers who need to be awarded. Those people who understand and encourage filmmakers to make more films also deserve one,” she said.

Mr. Vijayan also felicitated actress Shabana Azmi, the chief guest, on completing 50 years in cinema. Ms. Azmi, who recollected memories of taking part in the first edition of the IFFK, said that the festival continues to be one of the most important ones in India because of the audience’s taste for good cinema.

“Filmmaking is a collaborative medium. Actors get away with most of the accolades because their faces are in front of the camera. But it is because of the technicians behind the scenes, who are working to enhance our strengths and reduce our frailties that we are getting all the appreciation,” she said.

Kerala State Chalachitra Academy chairperson Premkumar marked his protest against the denial of aid to Wayanad following the landslides, without explicitly mentioning the Union government.

Unique offering

Golda Sellam, the curator of the current edition, said that the team has tried to ensure that each film the delegates experience had something unique to offer, whether it be a fresh perspective or a deeply resonating narrative.

Minister for Cultural Affairs Saji Cherian, who presided over the function, spoke about the efforts taken by the State government to improve the representation of women in all departments of cinema.

French cinematographer Agnes Godard, chairperson of the jury this year, said that she was impressed by the large crowd participation in the festival.

The inaugural event was followed by the screening of the opening film I’m Still Here directed by Walter Salles. A total of 177 films from 68 countries will be screened across 15 theatres in the capital city over the coming week.