The 21st edition of the Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF) is all set to begin on Thursday, December 14, at the PVR Multiplex (formerly Sathyam Cinemas) and Anna Theatre in Chennai. The festival, organized by the Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation (ICAF) in association with PVR INOX, will showcase 126 films from 57 countries, spanning various genres, languages and cultures.
A Feast for Film Lovers
The CIFF, which aims to be at par with the best international film festivals across the globe, is dedicated to presenting the best of international and Indian panorama films to the cinema-loving city of Chennai, as well as showcasing the best of Tamil films to the world. The festival will feature films from countries such as Iran, Korea, Germany, France, Hungary, Mexico, Taiwan, Australia, and more. For the first time in CIFF, there will be films from Vietnam, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Tajikistan, Panama, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Reunion, Uruguay, Macedonia, UAE and Tibet.
The festival will also have special sections such as the Country Focus, which will highlight the films from Argentina and Poland; the Retrospective, which will pay tribute to the legendary filmmakers Federico Fellini and Satyajit Ray; the Contemporary Indian Films, which will showcase the best of Indian cinema from 2023; and the Tamil Competition, which will feature 12 Tamil films vying for the Best Film Award.
The Opening and Closing Films
The festival will be inaugurated at PVR Inox on December 14 at 6 p.m. by the chief guest, the renowned filmmaker Mani Ratnam, along with other dignitaries and celebrities. The opening film will be either Anatomy of A Fall by Justine Triet (Cannes Festival 2023, Palme d’Or winner) or Perfect Days by Wim Wenders (Cannes Festival 2023, Best Actor Award winner), depending on the availability of the prints.
The festival will conclude on December 21 with the closing ceremony and the award distribution. The closing film will be either Sweet Dreams by Zoete dromen (the Netherlands’ entry to Oscars 2024) or A Brighter Tomorrow by Nanni Moretti (Cannes Festival 2023, Palme d’Or nominee).
How to Register and Attend
The festival is open to all film enthusiasts who can register online at https://icaf.in/ or directly at Anna Cinemas from December 1. The registration fee is Rs. 500 per person, which includes a festival kit and a delegate card. The delegate card will allow the access to all the screenings at both the venues, subject to the availability of seats. The timings for the festival are every day from 10.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The festival is also taking all the necessary Covid-19 safety measures, such as social distancing, temperature checks, face masks, hand hygiene stations, limited capacity, contactless service, and proof of vaccination.
The CIFF is a great opportunity for the film lovers of Chennai to enjoy and appreciate the diverse and rich cinema from around the world, as well as to interact with the filmmakers and critics. The festival promises to be a memorable and enriching experience for all the cinephiles.
