30th Kolkata International Film Festival: A Celebration of Cinema and Tributes - GetBengal story
The Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), India's third oldest film festival, will celebrate its 30th edition from December 4 to 11. Like previous years, screenings will take place across various venues, including government theatres, single screens, and multiplexes such as Nandan 1, 2, and 3, Rabindra Sadan, Shishir Mancha, Radha Studio, Nazrul Tirtha 1 and 2, and Rabindra Okakura Bhavan
The festival will feature 175 films from 2,459 submissions across 29 countries, including features, shorts, documentaries, and a special focus on Bengali cinema. The inaugural ceremony on December 4 at Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium will be presided over by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee, alongside esteemed guests of honour from both India and abroad. It will showcase Galpo Holeo Satti (1966), directed by Tapan Sinha. With 20 venues across Kolkata, including traditional single-screen theatres, KIFF remains a prestigious event accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). This year, the festival promises an exciting mix of world cinema, innovation, and tributes to cinematic legends, making it an unmissable event for cinephiles.
At a recent press conference, it was announced that this year's festival will honour the centenary of renowned figures like Tapan Sinha, Harisadhan Dasgupta, Arundhatidevi, Bansi Chandragupta, Mohammed Rafi, Talat Mahmood, Madan Mohan, Marlon Brando, and Marcello Mastroianni, among others. Special tributes will also be paid to the recently departed luminaries Kumar Shahani, Anup Mukhopadhyay, Goutam Halder, Utpalendu Chakrabarty, and Manoj Mitra.
The focus country for the 2024 edition of the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) is France. A total of 2,459 films from across the globe were submitted to the festival this year, with the jury selecting 175 films, including features, shorts, and documentaries. Films from 30 countries—such as India, France, Romania, Argentina, Australia, the UK, the USA, Italy, Georgia, Peru, Germany, Portugal, Denmark, China, Spain, Lithuania, the Philippines, Brazil, Singapore, Iran, Austria, Canada, Morocco, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Japan, Bulgaria, and Mexico—will be showcased this year.
In line with an initiative by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, films will also be screened at traditional single-screen theatres, in addition to Nandan. These include venues such as Navina Cinema, New Empire Cinema, Ajanta Cinema, Menoka Cinema Hall, Star Theatre, and Globe Cinema, continuing the festival's commitment to making cinema accessible to a wider audience.
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At the press conference for the 30th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), State Ministers Arup Biswas, Indranil Sen, and Birbaha Hansda, along with this year's chairman and director Gautam Ghosh, France's representative Nicola Facino, and actor Arjun Chakraborty, were present. Minister Indranil Sen remarked, "Let Bengal shine brighter through art and culture, for Bengal is the gateway to Indian culture." Gautam Ghosh, reflecting on the festival's journey, recalled that 30 years ago, he had served as the first chairman of the event. This year, Ghosh’s new Bengali film, Parikrama, will have its Asian premiere in a special screening at the festival.
It is worth noting that the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) is the only festival in the world that offers the highest prize money. Additionally, there is no entry fee for submitting films, which makes it accessible to independent filmmakers and producers from all walks of life and of all ages. Like in previous years, the festival will feature several important competition categories, including the International Competition (Innovation of Moving Images), the Indian Language Film Competition, the Asian Select NETPAC Award, the Competition for Indian Short Films, the Competition for Indian Documentary Films, and the Bengali Panorama. These categories offer a platform for diverse and innovative cinematic voices from across the globe.
A special exhibition celebrating 100 years of Tapan Sinha will be held at Nandan. Additionally, a unique exhibition marking the 30-year journey of the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) has been organized at the Gaganendra Art Gallery. A special feature will be the display of late director Utpalendu Chakraborty’s ‘Chokh’ captured in a 35 mm camera. On December 6, actress Vidya Balan will visit Kolkata for the premiere of Bhalo Theko, a special screening held to pay tribute to the late director Gautam Halder and renowned sound designer Anup Mukherjee. On December 11, surviving actors and crew members from Tapan Sinha’s films will be honoured at Rabindra Sadan.
The 30th edition of KIFF, organized by the Department of Information and Culture, Government of West Bengal, will be celebrated in the cultural capital of India, under the guidance of the Hon’ble CM of the state. Ektara Manch will host Cine Adda every day, while Shishir Mancha and Rabindra Sadan will feature seminars and masterclasses on various topics. Recognized by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), this cine-festival continues to be a significant cultural event.
