The 16th edition of the Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF) organized by the Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation (ICAF) is all set to begin December 13, and end December 20. The inauguration of the film fest will be held in Kalaivanar Arangam on December 13 at 6.15 pm. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy is expected to attend the inauguration.
Talking to the press, Sivan Kannan, president of the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce said, “We extend our appreciation and gratitude to our government. We are hopeful that there will be slight increase in the funds. The best films have been chosen. We also have Tamil film competitions where entries can be registered through our website. The most important thing about Chennai film festival is, we showcase the best films from all over the world.”
“It is important for the government to take cinema to the next level, to be the best it can be. And the best way to encourage the cinema industry is by conducting such festivals so that more people will see great films, experience good cinema,” he added.
150 films have been chosen from across 59 countries, with a special Tamil film competition this year. Many diplomats from various Foreign Missions at Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai will attend the festival, representing their countries, apart from film professionals Resul Pookutty, director Shilpa from Singapore, Abu Shahed Emon, a director from Bangladesh, and Naina Sen from Australia.
This edition of the CIFF will see premiers of award-winning films such as Touch Me Not (Romania), Cold War (Poland), Dogman (Italy), Yomeddine (Egypt), At War (France), Human, Space, Time and Human (South Korea), In the Fade (Germany), Girls of the Sun (France), Mug (Poland), Rafiki (Kenya), Woman At War and What Will People Say (Norway).
The focus country this year is Brazil, and four films including City of God will be screened at the CIFF. Apart from this, the CIFF will also showcase 5 films from contemporary German cinema, 6 films that form a retrospective of Mr. Fatih Akin, 3 films from contemporary Brazilian cinema, 3 films from contemporary Australian cinema, 4 Australian comedies, 12 films from the Tamil film competition, and 12 films including The Sound Story from Indian Panorama categories. There is also a special screening of a Tamil film Merku Thodarchi Malai.
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The 12 Tamil feature films for the competition are C Prem Kumar’s 96, BR Vijayalakshmi’s Abhiyum Anuvum, Raj Kumar’s Annanukku Jey, Suseenthiran’s Genius, Mu Maran’s Iravukku Aayiram Kangal, PS Mithran’s Irumbu Thirai, Pandiraj’s Kadaikutty Singam, Karthik Subbaraj’s Mercury, Mari Selvaraj’s Pariyerum Perumal, Ram Kumar’s Ratsasan, Vetri Maaran’s Vada Chennai and Mohan Raja’s Velaikkaran.
For the first time in the Chennai International Film Festival, there are films from Zambia (Southern Africa), GRULAC (Group of Latin America and Caribbean Countries) including films from Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago (for the first time), from Ladakh (in Indian Panorama category) and from Kenya. While there are no films from Sri Lanka and Pakistan.