Bengaluru, 23 Dec

Bengaluru will host the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFES) from 29 January to 6 February, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Tuesday.

The Chief Minister said he will inaugurate the festival at a special event on the grand steps of the Vidhana Soudha, while senior actor, director and producer Prakash Raj has been appointed as the festival’s ambassador. The theme for this year’s edition is likely to focus on women’s empowerment, though a final decision is yet to be taken.

Films will be screened primarily at 11 Cinepolis screens at Lulu Mall, Rajajinagar, along with venues at Dr Rajkumar Bhavan, Artists’ Association, Chamarajpet, and Suchitra Film Society in Banashankari.

Siddaramaiah said applications for competition sections in Asian, Indian and Kannada cinema have received a strong response, with over 110 films submitted so far. The last date for entries is 31 December.

The festival will feature more than 400 screenings of around 200 films from over 60 countries, including Kannada and other Indian productions. Many of the films have been showcased at major international festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Karlovy Vary, Locarno, Rotterdam, Busan and Toronto, and several award-winning and Oscar-shortlisted films will also be screened.

A special segment showcasing the history of African cinema will be presented in collaboration with Alliance Française Bangalore and the French Institute in India.

The State government has allocated ₹7 crore for the festival. Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, will be presented at the closing ceremony.