IFFK 2025 Opens Today: ‘Palestine 36’ To Lead A Week Of World Cinema (Imag:X/GKtheLoneWolf)
Thiruvananthapuram: The 30th edition of the Kerala International Film Festival (IFFK) will commence on Friday in the state capital.
For one week, the capital will witness changing perspectives of world cinema. From the 12th to the 19th, a total of 206 films from 82 countries will be screened across 26 different categories. The opening film is “Palestine 36,” directed by Annemary Jasir, which marks the resistance and history of the Palestinian people.
This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to the African cinema representative and Mauritanian director Abdourahmane Sissako.
Addressing themes such as displacement, exile, and freedom, his notable films like ‘Tim Bakhthu’ and ‘Black Tea’ will be featured.
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Five films from Sissako’s cinematic journey will be screened in a special package titled ‘The Global Griot.’ In celebration of the birth centenary of renowned Egyptian filmmaker Youssef Shaheen, a retrospective section has been organised, including his famous films such as ‘Cairo Station,’ ‘Alexandria Again and Forever,’ and ‘The Other.’
Three notable films by prominent Indian parallel cinema figure Saeed Mirza will also be among the festival’s main attractions.
Five films by Garin Nugroho, a leading figure in modern Indonesian cinema, will be screened in the ‘Contemporary Filmmaker in Focus’ section.
A grand showcase will feature 57 films from around the world. The festival’s competitive section is an international world cinema category where outstanding films from various countries will compete for the “Suvarnachakoram” and “Rajathachakoram “awards.
IFFK opening film: ‘Palestine 36’
The opening film of the 30th Kerala International Film Festival (IFFK), starting on the 12th of this month, will be ‘Palestine 36.’
The film, directed by Annemary Jasir, is set against the backdrop of the Arab revolt against British colonial rule from 1936 to 1939.
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It won the Grand Prize for best film at the Tokyo International Film Festival and received a 20-minute standing ovation when screened as part of the Gala Presentation section in Toronto. It is the official Palestinian entry for the 98th Academy Awards.
Also, Annemary Jasir’s film ‘Wajib,’ which depicts emotionally charged family relationships, will be screened this time. The film won the Golden Crow Pheasant award in 2017.
Lifetime Achievement Award to Abdourahmane Sissako
The Kerala International Film Festival (IFFK) will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to the renowned African filmmaker and screenwriter Abdourahmane Sissako.
The award includes a cash prize of ten lakh rupees, a sculpture, and a certificate of appreciation. Abdourahmane Sissako is one of the leading voices of West African cinema.
His 2015 film Timbuktu was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. The film won the Best Foreign Film and several other honours.
Sissako also received the prestigious César Award, winning seven awards, including Best Film. Five films by Abdourahmane Sissako will be screened at the film festival.
