Coming from the land of rich cultural heritage, Bengal and Kolkata is synonymous with the works of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore and the cinematic genius of Satyajit Ray. Though the pomp and show of it is much less compared to the Goa International Film Festival, which outdoes it by being a more star studded affair, filled with glitter and glamour, the ‘Poribortan’ Chief Minister of the State has ensured that this year Kolkata Film Festival will be an affair to remember in the film circuits for years to come.
The 18th Kolkata Film Festival will be held in the city between November 10th and 17th. The inaugural function will be much star studded because of the presence of Bollywood Superstar Amitabh Bachchan and the King Khan. Shah Rukh Khan with his IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders has already become the unofficial mascot of the State. And Sri Bachchan will be honored for giving Indian Cinema five decades of fantabulous work and turning 70.
Besides the grand opening, the festival has a great deal to look forward to in terms of cinema. The festival will screen over 180 films from more than 60 countries across the globe. The theme this year is focusing on the works and cinema of African region and their cinematic ventures. Classics and recent films will be balanced well and also works of respected film makers like Michael Antonioni and Michael Cacoyannis will be screened. The films belonging to radical genres and contemporary world cinema will be encapsulated in the festival too.
The Kolkata Film Festival will pay a special tribute to Rajesh Khanna by screening Anand, which now holds a greater meaning for his fans considering the zestful characteristic of the plot. Amitabh Bachchan will reign with Big Story and will be honored for his exemplary work in Bollywood. This year also marks a 100 Years of Indian Cinema. On the occasion of this, KFF intends to transcend its audiences into an era of the yesteryear by screening Dada Saheb Phalke’s memorable film Raja Harishchandra.
Shah Rukh Khan at an Event
Though the Kolkata Film Festival lacks a certain amount of luster, critics always look forward to it more than any of the more star studded, paparazzi incurring Film Festivals because the expectation from Kolkata when it comes to art and cinema is always sky rocketing high. KoiMoi sincerely hopes that the film festival is a huge success and escalates the popularity of Kolkata’s cinematic bend to greater zeniths!
