Stage set for 20th IFFK, Kerala CM to open movie gala tomorrow

The 20th edition of International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), the premier film festival of the state, will begin here tomorrowin a grand opening ceremony.
As many as 180 films from 64 countries will be screened at 13venues across the capital city during the eight-day-long festival.
Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain will take centre-stage at the opening ceremony in Nishagandhi auditorium to treat a sold-out audience to his extensive repertoire in the evening.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will light the traditional lamp to open the festival, Kerala Chalachitra Academy, the organiser of the event, said here in a release.
Iranian director Dariush Mehrjui will be honoured with life time achievement award by the Chief Minister during the inaugural function, it said.

The function will be followed by the screening of the inaugural film 'Wolf Totem'.

The sideline events of the festival include 'Open Forum', 'Meet the Director', 'In Conversation' and 'Master Class' sessions as well as the Aravindan Memorial Lecture, panel discussions and seminars.
Dariush Mehrjui, icon of the hugely influential Iranian New Wave movement of the 1970s, will be the cynosure of all eyes at the seminars. The festival will showcase a selection of his oeuvre.
"It will be understated and tasteful and, as in previous years, will be talked about long after it's over," said Soorya Krishnamoorthy, the founder-director of the Soorya Stage and Film society, who has conceptualised the evening.

Over 12,000 people are expected to attend the gala this year which will be concluded on December 11.