The International Film Festival of Kerala (abbreviated as IFFK) is a film festival held annually in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, India. This film festival started in 1996 and is hosted by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy on behalf of Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. The festival is held in November or December every year and is acknowledged as one of the leading cultural events in India.[1]
Several national and international films have their premiers at the IFFK each year. Competition section is limited to 14 selected films produced in Asia, Africa or Latin America.[2] The festival also has a section devoted to Malayalam cinema. On the lines of the IFFK, the Chalachitra Academy also organises the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala. The Academy also organized a regional film festival in 2022, Regional International Film Festival of Kerala held in Kochi.[3]
History
The Directorate of Film Festivals, Govt of India held the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) at Thiruvananthapuram, in 1988.[4] The festival cultivated an interest in serious films and has led to creation of several film societies throughout the state. The activities of the societies included screening of classic films from around the world, conducting group discussions on various aspects of cinema and circulating pamphlets on renowned film-makers. The film societies obtained copies of films from archives and from embassies of some countries as a part of culture-exchange programmes. The film society movement helped to raise film literacy among people and the need for an international film festival to the level of the IFFI came up.
The first IFFK was in Kozhikode in 1996. Incidentally, the festival was held in the 100th anniversary of cinema and 100 films were screened as a part of the event.[4] The event was managed by the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) till 1998 when the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy was formed and was bestowed with the responsibility of conducting IFFK along with other activities for promotion of cinema. Later, the FIAPF accredited the festival and a competition section was added to the event in 1999. The competition is limited to films produced in Asia, Africa or Latin America. The 'FIPRESCI (Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique) and the Netpac (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) have also recognised the festival.[4]
Highlights of the Festival
Contemporary World Cinema, New Malayalam Cinema, Retrospectives of Major filmmakers, Homage and Tributes, Contemporary Indian Cinema, Short films and Documentaries are screened during the film festival. Film Market and Seminars on important issues concerning Cinema are also scheduled during the IFFK. The festival is now permanently held at various cinema halls in Thiruvananthapuram. The festival is always noted for its public support.[5] The festival is perhaps the only one to have had screenings in a prison (Poojappura Central Jail, Thiruvananthapuram), a juvenile home and a poor home (Sri Chitra Poor Home).[6]
Festival Awards
The Golden Crow Pheasant Award: (Suvarna Chakoram) and a cash prize of Rs. 1,000,000/- (about US$20,000) to the best feature film to be shared equally by the director and the producer
The Silver Crow Pheasant Award: (Rajatha Chakoram) and a cash prize of Rs. 300,000/- (about US$6,000) to the best director
The Silver Crow Pheasant Award: (Rajatha Chakoram) and a cash prize of Rs. 200,000/- (about US$4,000) to the best debut director.
Audience Prize: (Rajatha Chakoram) and cash prize of Rs. 100,000 (about US$2,000) to the Director of the most popular film voted by the festival delegates
FIPRESCI Award: For the best film chosen by the Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique.
Netpac Award: For the best film in the competition section from Asia, chosen by the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema.
In 2007, two more awards from the FIPRESCI and the Netpac are introduced, which will be awarded separately to the best Malayalam films at the festival.
The 27th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK 2022) was held from 9 to 16 December 2022.[23] Hungarian filmmaker Béla Tarr was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by Kerala's Minister of Culture V. N. Vasavan.This edition of the IFFK witnessed a change at the helm, as Deepika Suseelan took over as artistic director from Bina Paul.[24]
Bolivian film Utama directed by Alejandro Loayza Grisi was awarded the Suvarna Chakoram for Best Film. Tayfun Pirselimoglu was awarded Rajata Chakoram for Best Director for his film Kerr.
IFFK 2021
Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurating 26th International Film Festival of Kerala
The 26th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK 2021) was held from 18 to 25 March 2022.[25] The festival was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan. Kurdish film maker Lisa Calan was awarded with the Spirit of Cinema award at the inaugural function in Thiruvananthapuram.[26]
IFFK 2020
The 25th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK 2021) was held in four legs from 10 February 2021 to 5 March 2021. It was held in four locations unlike its predecessors; Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Palakkad and Thalassery.[27]
The 24th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK 2019) was held over eight days, from 6 December 2019 to 13 December 2019. The opening film was Passed by Censor [tr] by Serhat Karaaslan. The international jury was chaired by Egyptian director Khairy Beshara.[29]
The Awards
The Golden Crow Pheasant Award for the Best film – Aru Sendo No Hanashi directed by Jōe Odagiri from Japan
The Silver Crow Pheasant Award for the Best Director – Allan Deberton for Paquerette
Special Mention, in the Category 'Best Director' – Lijo Jose Pellissery for Jallikattu
The Silver Crow Pheasant Award for the Best Debut Director – Cesar Diaz for Nuestros Madres (Our Mothers)
FIPRESCI Award: Best Film – Camille directed by Boris Lojkine
FIPRESCI Award: Best Malayalam Film – Pani directed by Santhosh Mandoor
NETPAC Award: Best Asian Film – Aani Maani by Fahim Irshad from India
NETPAC Award: Best Malayalam Film – Veyilmarangal directed by Dr. Biju
NETPAC Award: Malayalam Film (Special Mention) – Kumbalangi Nights by Madhu C Narayanan
K R Mohanan Award for Best Debut Director from India – Aani Maani by Fahim Irshad[30][31]
IFFK 2018
The 23rd IFFK was held from 7 December 2018 to 13 December 2018. This edition was initially cancelled due to heavy flooding across parts of Kerala. However, it was later decided to conduct the festival on a limited scale. The opening film was Todos lo Saben by Asghar Farhadi. The international jury was chaired by Iranian director Majid Majidi.[32]
The Awards
The Golden Crow Pheasant Award for the Best film – Otagh-e-Tarik directed by Rouhollah Hejazi from Iran
The Silver Crow Pheasant Award for the Best Director – Lijo Jose Pellissery for Ee. Maa. Yau.
The Golden Crow Pheasant Award for the Best film – Eshtebak directed by Mohamed Diab
The Silver Crow Pheasant Award for the Best Director – Yesim Ustaoglu for Tereddüt
The Silver Crow Pheasant Award for the Best Debut Director – Vidhu Vincent for Manhole
The Silver Crow Pheasant Award for the Best Feature Film (Audience Prize) – Eshtebak directed by Mohamed Diab
FIPRESCI Award: Best Malayalam Film – Manhole directed by Vidhu Vincent
FIPRESCI Award: Best International Film – Almacenados directed by Jack Zagha
NETPAC Award: Best Malayalam Film – Kammatipaadam directed by Rajeev Ravi
NETPAC Award: Best Asian Film – Cold of Kalandar directed by Mustafa Kara
IFFK 2015
The 19th IFFK was held from 12 December 2014 to 19 December 2014. With a total of 140 films, 10 sections and 12 theatres, The world cinema package of the IFFK has a total of 60 films from 37 countries, including, French and Chinese film packages.[35]
The Awards
The Golden Crow Pheasant Award for the Best film – Refugiado directed by Nicolas Avruj
The Silver Crow Pheasant Award for the Best Director – Hiroshi Toda for Summer, Kyoto
FIPRESCI Award: Best Malayalam Film – Oraalppokkam directed by Sanalkumar Sasidharan
FIPRESCI Award: Best International Film – They Are The Dogs directed by Hicham Lasri
NETPAC Award: Best Malayalam Film – Oraalppokkam directed by Sanalkumar Sasidharan
NETPAC Award: Best Asian Film – Summer, Kyoto directed by Hiroshi Toda from Japan[36]
IFFK 2014
The 19th IFFK was held from 12 December 2014 to 19 December 2014. With a total of 140 films, 10 sections and 12 theatres, The world cinema package of the IFFK has a total of 60 films from 37 countries, including, French and Chinese film packages.[35]
The Awards
The Golden Crow Pheasant Award for the Best film – Refugiado directed by Nicolas Avruj
The Silver Crow Pheasant Award for the Best Director – Hiroshi Toda for Summer, Kyoto
FIPRESCI Award: Best Malayalam Film – Oraalppokkam directed by Sanalkumar Sasidharan
FIPRESCI Award: Best International Film – They Are The Dogs directed by Hicham Lasri
NETPAC Award: Best Malayalam Film – Oraalppokkam directed by Sanalkumar Sasidharan
NETPAC Award: Best Asian Film – Summer, Kyoto directed by Hiroshi Toda from Japan[37]
IFFK 2013
The 18th IFFK was held from 7 December 2013 to 13 December 2013. The festival began with the guests and audience observing a minute's silent prayer in honour of South African leader Nelson Mandela. Renowned actress Shabana Azmi was the chief guest. Amos Gitai's Ana Arabia, an Israeli movie shot in an 85-minute-long single sequence was the opening film at the festival. As many as 211 films from 64 countries under various categories like 'Competition Section', 'World Cinema', 'Indo-German Connection Section', 'Samurai Film Section', 'Retrospective Section' and 'Homage Section' were screened during the festival. A total of 14 movies from Asia, Africa and Latin America were selected for the Competition Section, while the World Cinema segment had 79 movies. Seven films including those of noted Japanese directors like Kon Ichikawa and Kenji Mizoguchi comprised the Samurai Film section. Seeking to mark the centenary celebrations of Indian cinema, a special section titled "Original Glory: 100 Years of Indian Cinema" was included. It included Indian classics like Satyajit Ray's Charulata and Mrinal Sen's Bhuvan Shome. Veteran Mexican filmmaker Arturo Ripstein chaired the jury panel of the Competition Section, which also comprised Thai film maker Aditya Assarat, South African director Khalo Matabane and south Indian actor Gautami. Spanish Filmmaker Carlos Saura was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Awards
The Golden Crow Pheasant Award for the Best film – Parviz (Majid Barzegar)
The Silver Crow Pheasant Award for the Best Debut Film – Errata (Ivan Vescovo)
The 17th IFFK was at Thiruvananthapuram 7–14 December 2012.[38] It was inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy with a special screening of Alfred Hitchcock's silent film The Ring (1927), with the accompaniment of live orchestration of a new score created by the sextet led by British Jazz artiste Soweto Kinch.[39] One hundred and ninety eight films from 54 countries were shown in the festival.[40]
14 films were screened in the competition section, including two Malayalam films (Bhoomiyude Avakashikal by T. V. Chandran and Shutter by Joy Mathew) and two non-Malayalam Indian films (I.D by Kamal K. M. and Filmistaan by Nitin Kakkar). IFFK 2012 had retrospectives of thespians and auteurs, past and present. It had works by Australian filmmaker Paul Cox (who chaired the competition jury), Burkina Faso film director and screenwriter Pierre Yameogo, French filmmaker Alain Resnais, the Japanese master filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, Brazilian actor Helena Ignez, British filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock and Malayalam actor Sathyan.[41]
IFFK 2012 was appreciated for improved viewing experiences it provided through better theatre atmosphere and high-tech sound and visual systems. IFFK 2012 was not free from controversies either. The ban imposed on the reshow of Deepa Mehta's Midnight's Children created a widespread controversy. The film, an adaptation of renowned writer Salman Rushdie's masterpiece novel Midnight's Children, had its Asian premiere at the IFFK. After the premiere, Indian National Congress leaders said that the film portrayed former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi and other leaders in a negative manner.[42] Following the allegations, further festival screening of the film was stopped, an act which drew heavy criticism. Another controversy developed when Jayan K. Cherian's Papilio Buddha was removed from the programme when it was alleged by the Kerala Police that it became known that continued inclusion of the film in the festival might trigger major trouble in the city due to its alleged negative remarks on Mahatma Gandhi and sympathy with Dalit.[43]
The Awards
The Golden Crow Pheasant Award for Best Feature Film – Sta. Nina (Emmanuel Quindo Palo)
Hassan Kutty Award for Best Debut Indian Film – Chayilyam (Manoj Kana)
IFFK 2011
Main venue of 16th Iffk 2011 at KairaliRush at delegate pass distribution cell at Kalabhavan theatre
The 16th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK 2011) was at Thiruvananthapuram 9- December 2011. It was opened by the state of Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy with actress Jaya Bachchan as the guest of honor.[44] The inaugural film was Under the Hawthron Tree, directed by Chinese film-maker Zhang Yimou. Noted director Priyadarshan was the jury chairman. K G Santhosh was the Secretary and executive Director of the Festival.
The Awards
The Golden Crow Pheasant Award for Best Feature Film – The Colours of the Mountain, directed by Carlos Cesar Arbelaez
The Silver Crow Pheasant Award for Best Debut Film – A Stone's Thrown Away (Sebastian Hiriat)
The Silver Crow Pheasant Award for Best Director – Hamid Reza Aligholian (Flemingo No: 13)
The Silver Crow Pheasant Award for Best Feature Film (Audience Prize) – The Painting Lesson (Pablo Perelman)
NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film – At the End of It All (Aditi Roy)
NETPAC Award for Best Malayalam Film – Adaminte Makan Abu (Salim Ahamed)
Hassan Kutty Award for Best Debut Indian Film – Adaminte Makan Abu (Salim Ahamed)
IFFK 2010
The 15th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK 2010) was at Thiruvananthapuram 10–17 December 2010. It was opened by the state of Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan with Indian actress Waheeda Rahman as the guest of honor. Werner Herzog, the German filmmaker, was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award in the inaugural ceremony. A jury headed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan chose him for the award.[45] The opening film was Please Do Not Disturb.[46] Around 8000 delegates which included film makers, artists and film buffs from all over India and abroad participated in the 8-day long festival.
Members of the jury included Julie Dash, Mexican filmmaker Maria Novaro, Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Japanese filmmaker Yashuhiro Hariki and Indian screenplay writer and photographer Sooni Taraporevala.
There were various film discussion sessions with Werner Herzog, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Julie Dash, Maria Novaro, Juliane Lorenz and many prominent Indian filmmakers. Mani Ratnam, notable Indian filmmaker, was the chief guest of the closing ceremony.[48]
The Awards
The Golden Crow Pheasant Award for Best Feature Film – "Portraits in a Sea of Lies", directed by Carlos Gaviria (Colombia)
The Silver Crow Pheasant Award for Best Debut Film – Zephyr, directed by Belma Bas
The Silver Crow Pheasant Award for Best Director – Julia Solomonoff for"The Last Summer of La Boyita"
FIPRESCI Award for Best Film – Dowaha, ('Buried Secrets') directed by Raja Amari
The 14th IFFK was 11–18 December 2009. The competition jury included: Chairperson Bahman Ghobadi (Iran), Balufu Bakupa Kanyinda (Congo), Prassanna Vithnarage (Sri Lanka), Mamta Shankar (India) and Hala Khalili (Egypt).
Suvarna Chakoram and cash prize of Rs. 1 million for Best film shared between: Darbareye Elly/About Elly (Iran) Director: Asghar Farhadi and Jermal /Fishing Platform (Indonesia) Director: Ravi Bharwani
Rajatha Chakoram and cash prize of Rs 300,000 for Best Director: Nosir Saidov for True Noon (Tajikistan)
Rajatha Chakoram and a cash prize of Rs 200,000 for Best Debut Film: Izulu Lami /My Secret Sky Dir: Madoda Ncayiyana
Rajatha Chakoram and a cash prize of Rs 100,000 for Audience Award: Ghiyame Rooz/True Noon (Tajikistan) directed by Nosir Saidov
FIPRESCI Award for Best Film: La Mosca en la Ceniza/ A Fly in the Ashes (Argentina) Dir: Gabriela David
FIPRESCI Award for Best Malayalam Film: Pathaam Nilayile Theevandi/ Train on the Tenth Floor dir: Joshy Mathew
NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film in Competition: Jermal /Fishing Platform (Indonesia) Director: Ravi Bharwani
NETPAC Award for Best Malayalam Film : Kerala Café: Dirs: Shyamaprasad, Lal Jose, Shaji Kailas, B Unnikrishnan, Revathy, Anvar Rasheed, Padma Kumar, Anjali Menon, Uday Ananathan, Sankar Ramakrishnan
Hassan Kutty Award for Best Debut Indian Film (Certificate and a cash prize of Rs 50,000/ instituted by Mira Nair): Harishchandrachi Factory/ Harishchandra's Factory (Marathi) Dir: Paresh Mokashi
IFFK 2008
The 13th International Film Festival of Kerala was held from 12 to 19 December 2008.[51] The festival was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Kerala, V. S. Achutanandan. Argentinean filmmaker Fernando Birri and veteran actor K.R. Vijaya were the chief guests. The opening film of the festival was Laila's Birthday, by Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi. The eight-day long festival had 182 films from 53 countries. 14 films, including two Malayalam films, were in the competition section.[52] Lucia Murat (Brazil) headed the jury, which also consisted of Samira Makhmalbaf (Iran), Sitora Alieva (Russia), Allain Jalladeau (France) and Jabbar Patel (India). The juries representing Fipresci (International Federation of Film Critics)were Chris Fujiwara, Barbara Lorey and Manoj Barjpujari. The NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) nominated juries were Sudhir Mishra, Freddie Wong and Max Tesseir.[53]
The Awards
Suvarna Chakoram and cash prize of Rs. 1 million for the Best Film: Parque Via (Dir:Enrique Rivero) (86min/Mexico/2008)
Rajatha Chakoram and cash prize of Rs. 300,000 for Best Director: Mariana Rondon for Postcards from Leningrad
Rajatha Chakoram and cash prize of Rs. 200,000 for Best Debut Film: My Marlon and Brando (Dir:Huseyin Karabey) (92min/Turkey/2008)
Special Jury Award for the Best Debut Film: Firaaq (Dir: Nandita Das) (101min/Hindi/2008)
Special Jury Award: The Yellow House (Dir:Amor Hakkar) (84min/Algeria, France/2008)
Audience Award for the best film: Machan (Dir: Uberto Pasolini, Sri Lanka)
The 12th IFFK (IFFK 2007) was 6–14 December. The festival was opened by actor Kamal Haasan; Miguel Littin (Chilean director), MA Baby was the guest of honor. Other notable attendees included: the Minister for Cultural Affairs, state of Kerala; and actors Naseeruddin Shah and Mohanlal. Twelve people were honored at the competition for their contribution to the growth of the Malayalam cinema: producers M.O. Joseph, K.N. Ravindranathan Nair, R.S. Prabhu, the former Film Archives director P.K. Nair, music directors, M.S. Viswanathan and M.K. Arjunan, playback singer S. Janaki, art director S. Konnanad, actors KPAC Lalitha, K. R. Vijaya, T. R. Omana, Santhadevi and makeup man Velappan. 231 films from 54 countries were screened at eight cinema halls in Thiruvananthapuram, namely Ajanta, New Theatre, Kalabhavan, Kairali, Sree, Kripa, Dhanya and Remya theatres.[55]
14 films were selected for the competition section which was limited to films produced or co-produced in Asia, Africa & Latin America between September 2006 & August 2007.[56] The jury consisted of Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, African actor and director Naky Sy Savene, Polish scenarist Agnieska Holland, actor and producer Naseeruddin Shah and Cuban Film Academy director Rigoberto Lopez. Journalist Sheila Johnston heads the Fipresci jury which consisted of Turkish critic Cüneyt Cebenoyan and documentary filmmaker Varala Anand.[55]
The Awards
Suvarna Chakoram and cash prize of Rs. 1 million for the best film shared by: XXY directed by Lucia Puenzo and 10+4 directed by Mania Akbari[57]
Rajatha Chakoram and cash prize of Rs. 200,000 for the Best director: Mania Akbari (Iran) 10+4
Rajatha Chakoram and cash prize of Rs. 300,000 for the Best Debut Film: Lucia Puenzo (Argentina) for XXY
Special jury prize: Abdullah Oguz (Turkey) for Bliss
