November 10, 2014
Today is a day of pride for us: WB CM at Kolkata International Film Festival inauguration
The 20th edition of the Kolkata International Film Festival was inaugurated today by legendary actor Mr Amitabh Bachchan at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee.
The Chief Guest for the programme was celebrated actor Mr Shahrukh Khan. Internationally famed filmmaker Mr Paul Cox was the Special Guest along with actors Jaya Bachchan, Tanuja, Aisharya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Irrfan Khan and Amol Palekar as other honourable guests.
Here is what the Chief Minister said at the event:
I am thankful to all the distinguished guests present here today. I have been listening to you all in a trance. I am thankful to Amitabh ji. He has fulfilled his promise of being present at Kolkata Film Festival with full family.
A new journey has begun today. I want you all to be present at Kolkata Film Festival every year. We are honoured to have amongst us Paul Cox and Amol Palekar. I am also thankful to the artists of Bengali film industry for making today's event so beautiful.
Today is a day of pride for us. Today is a day worth remembering forever. We must not forget our roots. If we do, we will never be able to succeed in life.
We have renovated the Technicians' Studio. We are setting up 2 new film cities. I urge filmmakers from across the world to come and shoot their films in Bengal. We have started medical insurance schemes for film technicians in Bengal.
We are paying tributes to Suchitra Sen this year at Kolkata Film Festival. We have started competitive section at Kolkata Film Festival this year. I hope the Golden Tigress trophy will become famous across the world.
I congratulate everyone at Department of Information and Culture for all the hard work to make Kolkata Film Festival a success.
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About the festival
Boasting of a rich oeuvre of 137 films from 60 countries, the fest will see 40 international delegates and 15 segments. There will be 31 Indian films, including 13 Bengali films. It will conclude Nov 17.
Competitive section
For the first time, the fest turns competitive with 15 films by women directors from across the globe competing for the top jury award — the Golden Royal Bengal Tiger trophy in the Women Directors segment.
Also, this year there is no private sponsorship. Headed by award-winning Australian filmmaker Paul Cox, the jury will comprise Iranian director Nikki Karimi and Indian filmmaker Amol Palekar and others.
The inclusion of 2014 French drama and experimental 3D film “Goodbye to Language” by renowned French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard is set to create new benchmarks.
Focal theme
The focus will be on cinema from Arab nations and a special section has been earmarked as a tribute to legendary Bengali actress Suchitra Sen, who died Jan 17 this year in Kolkata. Seven of her films will be screened as part of this.
Hollywood classics such as “Guns of Navarone”, “The Sound of Music” and “Jighangsa” by Ajoy Kar will be screened at the 'Centenary Tribute' section.
For the 'Great Master' segment, seven films including “Lolita', “2001: A Space Odyssey” by American director Stanley Kubrick will be shown.
Other attractions
Additions include a 'Bengali Panorama' section, where five films by Bengali filmmakers will have their world premiere.
The Satyajit Ray Memorial lecture will be delivered by director Govind Nihalani and the screening locations will be spread across 12 venues. A 'Children Screening' section and 'French Classics' segments are the other highlights, apart from contemporary world films of 2013 and 2014.
The inaugural film selected is the Italian movie “Italio Barocco” by Alessia Scarso.
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