Kozhikode To Host 120 Short Films As Independent Festival Returns For Eighth Year

Kozhikode: The city becomes the capital of short cinema for six days from tomorrow, when the eighth edition of what organisers call India’s largest independent short film festival opens at the 3D theatre of the Krishna Menon Museum.

Tamil director R Gautham will inaugurate the festival at 5pm on Tuesday. Filmmaker Jeo Baby is the chief guest. The opening film is Pavazha, directed by Akanksha Sood Singh, and the festival closes on 15 November with Lagatho, a Tamil film directed by the actor Rohini.

Thirteen films, three of them Malayalam, are in the running for the Bioscope Award in the international competition. The Malayalam entries are Chayappodi by Bhavya Karthikeyan, Kuttikkali by Ruthu and Oyvil Valivaakku by Devan.

The winner receives Rs 50,000 and a plaque, while the runner-up takes home Rs 20,000.

The jury comprises Ecuadorian director Wilson Burbano, sound designer and producer Amala Popuri, and state film award winner K.C. Jithin. The awards will be presented at the closing ceremony.

In all, 120 films will be screened across sections including Iranian women’s cinema, Kurdish and Tamil cinema, animation, expanded cinema, and Indian, world and Malayalam films. The Director Focus section features three works by Akanksha Sood Singh, one of India’s leading wildlife filmmakers.

Festival director Arjun K, himself a filmmaker and curator, has also lined up discussions with Ms Singh, director Rajesh James and critics C.S. Venkiteswaran and P.K. Surendran. Conversations with filmmakers and an open forum will run daily.

Delegates can register on 98952 86711.