TIFF opens with ‘Hurt Locker’

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: ‘Hurt Locker’, the much talked about film of the year and winner of six Oscars, was screened at the Kalabhavan Theatre on Friday marking the inauguration of the 15th Trivandrum International Film Festival (TIFF).

Renowned filmmaker Buddhadeb Das Gupta inaugurated the TIFF.

As many as 50 films will be screened during week-long film festival, which is dubbed as the forerunner of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).

More than half of the films in TIFF are premiere shows. TIFF is organised by Chalachitra Film Society, which is also celebrating its 35th anniversary.

In his inaugural address, Das Gupta said that TIFF was unique in many ways. “Chalachitra is organising such a great event when there is no external fund or support, except that of Chalachitra Academy. It is organised purely out of love for good films. The festival screens only selected films,” he said.

He also expressed his wish to make a Malayalam movie.

“I love Malayalam films. But I couldn’t make one yet. But my new film ‘Janala’ will explain my love for Malayalam. I have used Malayalam in the film with the help of cinematographer Sunny Joseph,” he said.

‘Janala’ will be screened at Kalabhavan at 5 PM on Saturday.  

The festival package includes World Cinema, Asian Cinema, Focus Dutch, Focus French, Sentimental Comedy and Argentinean Comedy.

Twenty-two films will be screened under World Cinema package, nine under Asian Cinema and six under Current Masters package.

The Current Masters package, which screens contemporary films of some renowned filmmakers, will be screened at 5 PM everyday at Kalabhavan. Kesari Memorial Trust auditorium is the other venue.

Chairman of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy KR Mohanan presided over the function.

Consul General of Israel Orna Sagiv, Consul General of Netherlands Marijke Drunel little, Netherlands Embassy senior official Ila Singh, and president of Chalachitra G Rajmohan spoke.