Bengaluru: The 10th edition of Bengaluru International Film Festival (Biffes) will be held from Feb. 22 to Mar. 1, 2018 in Bengaluru and Mysuru. The organisers have selected 200 films from around 50 countries to be screened during the festival.

Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, unveiling the logo of Biffes-2018 yesterday at Vidhana Soudha, said that the festival will be organised with the theme “Human Rights and Social Justice” and added that it will have participation from filmmakers, directors and artistes from across the globe.

Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy and Department of Information and Public Relations are organising the festival on behalf of the State Government. This year, both the inauguration and valedictory will be held in front of Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru unlike last year where the valedictory was held in the Mysore Palace premises.

This year, the organisers for the first time have decided to give the Lifetime Achievement Award, which carries a purse of Rs. 10 lakh. However, the recipient of the award will be chosen by a special committee.  Apart from Lifetime Achievement award, the other awards such as Best Indian Film in Competition, Best Kannada Film in Competition, Best Asian Film and Best amongst the popular entertainment cinema in Kannada will also be given away.

Biffes will feature academic interactions on film-making and film appreciation, such as seminars, workshops and master classes, for film professionals, discerning audiences and students. Last year nearly 25 foreign delegates attend the festival while 264 films from 45 countries were screened on 15 screens combining both Bengaluru and Mysuru.

‘Biffes not happening in Mysuru’

When Star of Mysore sought a clarification over Mysuru not being a part of Biffes-2018, as reported in a section of the media today, Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy Chairman S.V. Rajendra Singh Babu said that a final decision with regard to Mysuru would be taken after holding a meeting with CM Siddharamaiah and Tourism Minister Priyank Kharge.

He added that if not organising Biffes in Mysuru, the Academy would try to screen good movies in city. Sources said that the organisers were not happy with the poor response to the festival in Mysuru last year and hence had decided to restrict the festival to Bengaluru.

Film City soon

Chief Minister Siddharamaiah has instructed Tourism Minister Priyank Kharge to make arrangements for the guddali puja of Film City in Immavu in Nanjangud before Feb. 20.

It is said that the Chief Minister, who will get into election mode, wants to lay the foundation stone for the mega project before the Election Code of Conduct comes into effect in the State ahead of 2018 Assembly Polls.

It may be recalled that the State Government has proposed to construct the Film City at Immavu, located less than 20 kms from Mysuru, off NH  212.