The inclusion of 2014 French drama and experimental 3D film “Goodbye to Language” by renowned French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard in the 20th edition of the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) is set to create new benchmarks, organisers said Saturday.
Beginning Nov 10, the fest will have 137 films from 60 countries and 31 Indian films, including 13 Bengali films in action.
Eminent filmmaker Goutam Ghose, part of the film fest committee, said he is looking forward to watching “Goodbye to Language” at the fest.
“It is a very interesting film by Godard,” he told media persons during the fest’s announcement.
According to state Principal Secretary, Information and Cultural Affairs Atri Bhattacharya, the screening technology was not available earlier.
Hollywood classics such as “Guns of Navarone” and “The Sound of Music” and a section on American director Stanley Kubrick’s films have been included.
KIFF turns competitive this year with 15 films by women directors across the globe in the running for the top jury award for the ‘International Women Directors’ section of films.A
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 where seven of her films will be screened. Sen died on Jan 17 this year.
The inaugural film selected is the Italian movie “Italo Barocco” byAAlessia Scarso.
A ‘Children Screening’ section and ‘French Classics’ segments are the other highlights, apart from contemporary world films of 2013-2014.
The inaugural ceremony will be presided over by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with the participation of superstar Amitabh Bachchan and his family, and Shah Rukh Khan, also the state’s brand ambassador.