3rd BENGALOORU INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (Biffes'-09)

The curtain will go up for the 3rd Bengalooru International Film Festival on January 15, 2009, when the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Dr. B. S. Yedyurappa, inaugurates the eagerly-awaited event at the Chowdaiah Memorial Hall at 5 pm in the presence of the glitterati of Kannada cinema, Government top brass and leading lights of Karnataka's cultural world.
 Mr. Katta Subramanya Naidu, Minister for Information, Government of Karnataka, will preside over the inaugural gala. Mr. Prakash Rai, South India's leading film star and versatile actor, will be the guest of honour.
 Details of the Festival, which is being organized by the Suchitra Cinema and Cultural Academy and Suchitra Film Society in collaboration with the Government of Karnataka with the support of the Kannada film industry, were announced at a news conference here today by top functionaries of the Festival Organising Committee.
Mr. Jayarama Raje Urs, Secretary, Information, Kannada and Culture, Mr. Vishu Kumar, Director, Information Department, Mr. Girish Kasaravalli, eminent film maker and Festival Director, Mr. V. N. Subba Rao, Chairman, Organising Committee, and Mr. H. N. Narahari Rao, Artistic Director, addressed the media and announced the relevant details of the Festival.
 The Festival being held at the Vision Cinemas complex and K H Patil Auditorium on Kengal Hanumanthaiya Road, Badami House in N R Square, and Suchitra Auditorium in Banashankari 2nd Stage between January 16 and 22, 2009, will feature 140 films drawn from 35 countries. It will have several sections like cinema of the World Retrospectives, Tributes, World Classics, Chitra Bharati, Children's Section, and Documentary Section. The country focus will be on Italy and Norway. The Festival is privileged to premiere a brand new American film "Seven Pounds" which is due for commercial release in India only on January 30, 2009. This will be the opening film of the Festival.
A four day workshop on the Role of Sound in Cinema will provide value addition to the Festival provide value addition t the Festival. Outstanding children's films from all over the world will be screened at the Suchitra Auditorium and hand picked documentaries at one of the screens in the Vision Cinemas complex.
 A highlight of the Festival will be the several activities to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Kannada cinema. Apart from the screening of 28 landmark Kannada films in all festival venues, a comprehensive photo exhibition on the birth and growth of Kannada cinema, compiled by the Information Department of the Government of Karnataka, is also being organized. A 150-minute video presentation on the evolution of Kannada film music, anchored by the leading music director, Hamsalekha, is also being produced specially for the occasion and two doyens of Kannada cinema, Producer-Director-cinematographer and studio owner B. S. Ranga, and veteran actress B. Saroja Devi Sriharsha, who was recently honored by the Union Government for her Lifetime achievements, are being honored at an exclusive function. Two books - one in Kannada and another in English - on the late               N. Lakshminarayan, eminent director who sowed the seeds of offbeat cinema, are being released. The homage section will feature three masters of Kannada Cinema, lyricist - scripter - director R. N. Jayagopal, director, K. V. Jayaram and actor -producer M. P. Shankar, who passed away during the year. A well- attended warm up seminar on Contemporary Kannada cinema has already been held.
 The Golden Jubilee of the Federation of Film Societies of India and Diamond Jubilee of the International Federation of Film Societies will also be celebrated during the Festival with the screening of eight contemporary Italian films.
 "The Festival would provide audiences with abundant opportunities to discover today's most innovative films" said Mr. Girish Kasaravalli, Festival Director. "The broad range of Cinematic expression this year is in various films made by eminent film makers and the issues they explore. The creative and the passion of this year's film makers prove that film making is still alive throughout the world."
 Mr. V.N. Subba Rao, Chairman, Organising Committee, said that despite the funds crunch this year because of the global economic meltdown, special care had been taken to strengthen the core of the festival by hand -picking some outstanding movies from all over the world, specially from some of the vibrant third world countries. No compromise had been made on the other components of the festival in order to retain the global reputation built by the first two festivals He thanked the  state Government in general and the Chief Minister in particular for the keen interest shown in the festival. He also appreciated the constructive participation in the Festival by the Kannada Film Industry led by Dr. Jaimala, President, and Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce.
Admission to the Festival would be through delegate passes priced at Rs. 500 for all the seven days for the general public and Rs. 300 for members of the film societies and students of film schools and students of journalism and communication in all the colleges offering these courses. Endorsement by the management of the film societies, film schools and colleges is absolutely essential as also display of their photographs on the delegate cards.
 Registration of delegates is already open at the Suchitra premises in Banashankari II Stage (Ph 26711785), email suchitrafilmsociety@gmail.com. Web: www.biffes.in
About Suchitra Film Society
Suchitra, 38 years old, is a flagship association and a cultural landmark in Bangalore. The Suchitra Cinema and Cultural Academy has under its umbrella the society, Suchitra Kalakendra and Suchitra Bal Jagat, all cut out for specific activities concerning cinema, theatre and performing arts. A large number of film festivals representing the cream of creative cinema from all over the world have been conducted so far under the aegis of Suchitra. A number of seminars, symposia, talks, workshops and competitions make up the amazing spectrum of activities.  Suchitra has held two international film festivals -one in 2006 in Bangalore Downtown which was a trend setter and became an Annual Event. The 2nd Bengalooru International Film Festival, held in 2008, witnessed tremendous success attracting film patrons from all over. Presently, Suchitra is on the threshold of a major expansion and will soon develop into a multi-dimensional conglomerate, addressing itself to the progress of media, literature, theatre and other performing arts.