Suchitra Bangalore International Film Festival from Dec 22

Bangalore, Dec 6 (UNI) A rare feast awaits film buffs when the week-long Suchitra Bangalore International Film Festival begins here from December 22.

Mr V N Subbarao of the Suchitra Film Society and Suchitra Cinema and Cultural Academy told newspersons here today that more than 35 award winning films from the country and abroad would be screened in three cinemas. The fest was designed on the lines of the annual international film festivals in Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram.

He said the films to be screened were divided into categories like world classics, contemporary Indian cinema, Indian classics, tributes and retrospective sections. During the fest, outstanding Kannada films, each one either a cultural or commercial landmark, would be screened, starting with the violin maestro T Chowdaiah starrer 'Vani' and ending with the latest blockbuster of the 21st century. ''This would take the viewer on a voyage of Kannada cinema since its nascent stage,'' he added.

Festival Director and eminent film maker Girish Kasaravalli said a Committee with himself, Suchitra Film Society President Vidyashankar, Federation of Film Societies of India Vice-President H N Narahari Rao as members, were in the final stages of selecting the films in all categories.

He said foreign films to be screened would be award winning films from over 25 countries, mostly European nations. Tributes would be paid to eminent cinematographer V K Murthy through a retrospective of four of his flims. Cinematographer S Ramachandra, who bagged the lifetime achievement award from the Karnataka Government recently, would be honoured in a separate section, featuring three of his films.

About 20 delegates from India and abroad were expected to participate in the festival and interact with the audience and the media. There would also be interactive seminars and workshops every day during the festival. Eminent film maker Shyam Benegal had been invited for the inaugural.

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