International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) kicked off in style in Thiruvananthapuram

The 28th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) kicked off in style in the state’s capital city of Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. A total of 175 films from 81 countries will be showcased during the week-long event, symbolising the celebration of cinema, its makers and audiences.

During the opening ceremony held at Nishagandhi theatre in Kanakakunnu Palace, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan formally inaugurated the festival. In a pre-recorded video message, he expressed that through IFFK, the people of Kerala were conveying their solidarity with the people of Palestine.

“While film festivals like those in Venice, Cannes, Berlin etc, are larger, older and



attract greater participation than ours, IFFK stands shoulder to shoulder with any global film festival when it comes to the political content of the films showcased. The screening of films expressing solidarity with Palestine this year serves as a testament to this,” he conveyed in a video message shared with the organisers, as the Chief Minister couldn’t attend the event in person due to the ongoing Nava Kerala Sadas programme.

Bollywood actor Nana Patekar graced the opening ceremony as the chief guest, while Culture and Youth Affairs Minister Saji Cherian presided over the event. Minister Saji, addressing the audience, emphasised that despite the boom of OTT platforms, IFFK’s glory remains undiminished.