Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurates 27th International Film Festival of Kerala

The 27th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) got underway here on Friday in a colourful opening ceremony with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan voicing concerns against attempts to turn movie galas into tools for the propagation of narrow ideologies.

Instead of traditional lamps, the Chief Minister officially launched the eight-day-long festival by switching on the professional arc light towards the audience at Nishagandhi open auditorium here, which is hosting it for the first time in the history of the annual event.

Stressing the significance of film festivals, he said such events not only provide an opportunity for



entertainment and enjoyment of movies but also reflect on human life and circumstances across the globe.

“It is a time when attempts are being made to turn film festivals as tools for the propagation of narrow ideologies,” he said.

Pointing out the inability of Iranian filmmaker-activist Mahnaz Mohammadi to receive the ‘Spirit of Cinema’ award due to the travel ban, Vijayan recalled her recent words that she was treated as a criminal in her country as she is a woman and a filmmaker.

If the work of a filmmaker even caused a ban on her travels, imagine how much her films have disturbed the authorities there, he said.