[PDF]8th-Biffes-2016.pdf

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Executive Team
Festival Director
Executive Director
Artistic Director
Executive Artistic Director
Festival Advisor

Deputy Artistic Director
Festival Co-ordinator
Registrar

Finance

Executive Manager
Hospitality Chief
Hospitality Manager
Volunteer & Registration
Co-ordination Manager
Print Traffic Manager


Venue Management
Technical Support


Media Support


Office Assistance
Support Staff


Festival Book
Chief Editor
Co-ordinating editors


Additional Inputs
Design
Printers


Published by


S.V. Rajendra Singh Babu
N.R. Vishukumar
Dr. Jaimala

N. Vidyashankar
Shankar Mohan
Anand Varadaraj
R.K. Shivaram

H. B. Dinesh
Venkatram
Shivanand Somappa
Anand Kannan
Sandeep Urs


Nikhil Bharadwaj
PB. Murali
Suhas S. R.
Suhas Gangadhar
Arvind Kamath
Srihari M. S.
Santosh Kumar
Lokesh M. S.
Yogitha P,, Sunil Reddy, Swaroop Subbaiah, Megha Yalegar
Reshma Ravi, Ashwini Raj, Madhuri Rao


Sowmya, Hariharan
Mahadev, Naveen, Madhusudhan


N. Vidyashankar

Anand Varadaraj

Payal Sethi

Suhas S. R.

Banuprakash

Bharath Raj

PB. Murali

M. K. Raghavendra

Ramesh Kengeri, Ba. Na Subramanya (Kannada version)
Flowergrafic

32nd Cross, 7th Block, Jayanagar, Bengaluru - 560 01 |
Gayatri Printers

Seshadripuram I Main, Bangalore - 560 020

Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy

Badami House, NR Square, Bengaluru-560 002


CHIEF MINISTER


It is with great joy that we commence the 8th edition of the Bengaluru International Film
Festival, which will be held from January 28th to February 4th, 2016


The Government of Karnataka supports the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy's on-going
effort to sustain a healthy film culture across the State. BIFFES has been one of the most
successful and significant platforms for the development of film culture and this year, in its
8th iteration, this important cultural event has been expanded to include the city of Mysuru,
which will enjoy screenings of the films simultaneously. It is our aim to maintain the spotlight
on BIFFES in the global cultural arena and therefore, we are committed to increasing its
infrastructural resources in accordance with this mandate. It is our sincere wish that the
Bengaluru International Film Festival would continue to attract important films and
filmmakers to Bengaluru, thereby turning it into a veritable film capital.


| am confident that cineastes, students of media and communication and film professionals
will support this endeavour by whole heartedly participating in its success.


Siddaramaiah
Hon'ble Chief Minister
Government of Karnataka


MINISTER FOR INFORMATION


It is wonderful to welcome the very best in Kannada and world cinema to the 8th Bengaluru
International Film Festival, which will take place from January 28th—Feb 4th, 2016.


Bengalureans will have the unique opportunity to be introduced to filmmakers and special
guests during this week. In a departure from past years, this year's festival will be inaugurated
by the screening of a celebrated Kannada film, THITHI. The remaining programming
continues to offer a stellar selection of films to the public. We anticipate enthusiastic
participation from the audience who are the very reason for mounting this ambitious event
each year. This year, we showcase a film shot on an iPhone, which is a testament to the
growing accessibility of filmmaking. At the same time, there are films that are feats of
impressive sophistication, which use all the technological advancements available in the
industry. It is with immense pride that we offer a programme that encompasses the diversity
of artistic and technological excellence to cinema lovers across the city.


The Bengaluru International Film Festival stands for many things, but perhaps the most
important is freedom of expression, which is being threatened all over the world. We
dedicate the festival to the global voices that stand up against this injustice and our goal is to
provide a space in which these voices can be heard sans censorship.


Among the new facets that have been introduced this year, the documentary section holds a
special place. There is also section of films dedicated to Drought, which is an issue of great
concern in our State. Last but not least, is the special section on biographical pictures,
generally referred to as “BIOPICS” which includes documentaries made on filmmakers,
Writers, Artists and Musicians.


Kannada movies continue to face challenging times due to the heavy competition from other
cinema in other languages. This challenge is not unique to Kannada films, as it is one that
affects all regional cinemas. Our goal for BIFFES is to strengthen the Kannada film industry
by showcasing cutting edge work from filmmakers working in this language today.


We encourage the public to enjoy the Kannada competition and other titles at BIFFES this
year.


R. Roshan Baig
Minister for Information, Infrastructure & Haj
Government of Karnataka


SECRETARY


From January 28th to February 4th the city of Bengaluru will once again bring together film
lovers at the much-awaited Bengaluru International Film Festival, now in its 8th edition.


For one week, we invite the public to enjoy a calendar packed with screenings, celebrations
and workshops. We are pleased to have filmmakers from all over the world congregating at
this prestigious annual event, which has become a permanent addition to the city's annual
cultural calendar.


It is inspiring to observe the festival rise up in the global film festival circuit by constantly
making changes to provide the best selection of Kannada, regional, national and world
cinema to our faithful public. BIFFES has made significant changes to provide an improved
experience to the audience, and | invite the residents of our vibrant city to attend the festival
and show support for a unique event that strives to promote a robust film culture.


The number of submissions received this year has been overwhelming. We have seen a
100% increase in the films that were sent in for consideration. This goes to prove the
importance of the festival in the global cultural landscape. The Government will continue to
enhance the physical and intellectual infrastructure of this festival so that it may address the
year-round interest that it receives from filmmakers and the public.


There is a call to action to the relevant departments and the Karnataka Chalanachitra
Academy to invest time and financial support in order to bridge the gaps. Most importantly,
our mission is to create a permanent festival office to handle queries on an on-going basis.


Over and above the incentives already given to the Karnataka Film Industry we hope that the
festival will continue to receive incentives to build upon the significant work that it aims to
fulfil.


Welcome to yet another excellent year at BIFFES!


Dr. N.S. Channappa Gowda, IAS
Secretary, Department of Information,
Public Relations, Kannada & Culture
Government of Karnataka


CHAIRMAN


To all the participating filmmakers, delegates, jury members and special guests, we wish you
awarm welcome to the 8th edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival.


| would like to first take the opportunity to express my sincere thanks to our honourable
Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, who has been an unwavering pillar of support to our festival by
consistently accepting all our requests. His generosity towards the film industry has helped
the cinema of our state flourish, through film subsidies and tax exemptions, among other
benefits. Recently, he has allotted | 46 acres for a hi-tech film city to be created in Mysuru, to
help the local industry grow and thrive. Through his leadership, we are proud to conduct a
parallel festival in Mysuru, which will showcase the films screening in Bengaluru at the same
time, and play host to the Closing Night Film Screening. Our Chief Minister, acting as the
Honorary President of the film festival organization committee for the first time this year, has
steered our Film Festival towards even greater success.


Film festivals provide the public with a forum for dialogue and engagement and this is our
mission at BIFFES. Moreover, this festival of cinema allows windows into worlds that might
otherwise be out of bounds, by presenting diverse landscapes from across the globe. This
invaluable experience is offered to all film lovers who attend BIFFES each year, through a
wide range of cinema thoughtfully selected from every corner of the world. In fact, there is
something for cineastes of every age at BIFFES, which will present films that have premiered
at prestigious international film festivals. Closer to home, our offering of Kannada Cinema is
no less impressive. The lingering perfume from sandalwood will spread to this world forum
through a bouquet of selected Art house cinema, mainstream films and culturally significant
works. In addition, there will be a couple of world premieres and presentation of films that
have featured in other International forums. It is a source of great pleasure that this global
festival is opening with the Kannada film, THITHI, by Raam Reddy, which has garnered major
international awards in Locarno and other important film festivals. This in itselfis a tribute to
the growing influence of BIFFes on the Kannada cinema scenario.


Our on-going mission at the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy is to encourage the
delegates to participate in the developing film culture of the city.


Wishing all the filmmakers and the delegatesa successful festival and great film watching.


S.V. Rajendra Singh Babu


Chairman, Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy


EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR


It gives us immense pleasure to bring to you a new edition of the Bengaluru International
Film Festival, to be held from January 28th—Feb 4th, 2016.


In the eight years since it's inception, BIFFES has established itself as an important fixture on
the international film festival scene, due to the high standards in programming,
organizational upgrades and the enthusiastic participation of audiences. The festival is a
magnet for both film lovers and industry members, and we expect to maintain audience
participation through various streamlined processes in effect during this edition.


We will be screening a programme of more than | 70 films from 61 countries at a single
venue this year. This will take place across || screens at the Orion Mall in Rajajinagar. In
addition, films will also be screened in Mysuru over 4 Inox screens in the Mall of Mysuru,
simultaneous to the Bengaluru screenings.


The selection of workshops and master-classes has been enhanced to include eminent
speakers and experts in their respective fields, and a wide range of subjects relevant to the
needs of the film industry.


Our endeavour is to grow the festival each year and to this end, we have undertaken
significant measures to provide festival delegates with the best possible film viewing
experience. We hope that you will enjoy what is in store and wish you a fruitful and fun-filled
week at BIFFES.


N.R. Vishukumar

Director, Department of Information
Government of Karnataka

and Festival Executive Director


ARTISTIC DIRECTOR


The 8th Bengaluru International Film Festival is ready to take-off from January 28th to
February 4th, 2016. The newest addition to BIFFES - simultaneous screenings in Mysuru -
make this the most ambitious year for the festival yet, but am confident that both events will
be a huge success.


It is a matter of some pride that the cultural heritage of this State is reflected by the success
of BIFFES, which continues to deliver celebrated cinema to the residents of this film-loving
city. Bengaluru has demonstrated its singular ability for appreciating global culture while
also nurturing its own local culture. The number of Kannada films in the competition section
highlights the new generation of Kannada filmmakers that are on the rise, and one of the
chief concerns of the festival is to support and encourage these creators by providing them
with a discerning audience and the recognition that they deserve.


The parallel event in Mysuru is certain to foster a new public for these films and reinforce the
state's commitment to boost quality Kannada cinema on a world stage. This is the surest
means to ensuring that the heritage and culture that we hold dear travels far beyond the
borders of the State.


On this momentous occasion, | welcome all the filmmakers, industry guests and audience
members, and hope that they have a meaningful week at BIFFES.


Dr. Jaimala
Artistic Director


EXECUTIVE ARTISTIC


Film, the edifice of film festival, is first and foremost a social construction. As Alex Fisher, a
Research scholar on analytics of Film festivals and Dynamics of World cinema
conceptualizes, film festival is an ephemeral event founded on social connectivity, a meeting
between films and different kinds of public whose participation depends on that of others.
Directors, the Public, Critics, International Marketing professionals, The film fraternity,
Partnering media and Public authorities are all connected by shared needs that the festival
meets. Each party takes part in accordance with the benefits they hope to gain from the
participation of others, sometimes in commercial measures but mostly of intellectual value.
A shared democratic space where Technology, Economics, Culture and Art coalesce.


BIFFES in its 8th edition understands its huge responsibility not only to the medium and its
creative and productive processes but also to the discerning audiences. It is also aware of its
increasing visibility across the globe. The fact that it received over 900 entries within a
matter of a fortnight of its announcement, demands greater accountability to the city cine
goers in setting far higher benchmarks in selection of films and its presentations. The
competence in adjusting to the new modes of digital projection system at BIFFES and its
consequent enhancement of cinematic experience driven by the enthusiasm of the new
generation of cineastes who are involved with the festival is indeed a tribute to the city of
Bengaluru, the technology hub of India. Despite the overbearing nature of socio political
conflicts in the global arena, the essence of life pervading through mundane day to day
living articulated in a simple and without frills formats are at the centre of focus in this
festival. Films like “DEGRADE”, “MUSTANG” under the contemporary world cinema or
the Naturalistic Kannada cinema “THITHI” which is a sensational discovery across the
World film festivals scenario this season and of course the films under Vintages by Masters of
cinema Mrinal Sen and Adoor Gopalakrishnan bear testimony to this theme.


There is deep concern about Climate Change and consequential drought on one side in the
physical world and the scorched feeling in the metaphysical space for plurality and tolerance
on the other. There are efforts in the festival to understand sincerely these natural and
intellectual vagaries through films in different sections of the festival. A new section featuring
documentary films have been started in this edition to accommodate the emerging interest
in this genre of socially relevant documentation of reality and the Academic discourse on
Free speech and expression show cases films that depict challenges to freedoms. The
academic activities further extends to areas of film making like understanding concepts in
sound design, Cinematography, Scripting, Direction, emerging technologies like VFX and
Film Criticism. Allinall, the festival promises a full spectrum of possibilities of the medium.


N Vidyashankar


Executive Artistic Director


CONTENTS


Opening Film
Closing Film
Kannada Cinema Competition
Chitrabharati - Indian Cinema Competition
Asian Cinema Competition
Cinema of the World
Country Focus
Iran
Mexico
Turkey
NETPAC Award Winners
FIPRESCI Award Winners
Grand Classic
>>>