The 16th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) is set to commence on July 26, with the Minister for Local Self-Governments and Excise inaugurating the event at Kairali Theatre. This prestigious festival, organized by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, promises to be a significant cultural event in the region.
During the inauguration, the Minister will award the Lifetime Achievement Award for notable contributions to the documentary field to the Bedi Brothers, Naresh Bedi and Rajesh Bedi. This honor includes a cash prize of ₹2 lakh, along with a memento and certificate.
Ranjith, chairperson of the Chalachitra Academy, will deliver the opening address, while the Mayor will unveil the festival book, presenting it to the chairperson of the fiction category jury. Additionally, the chairperson of the Film Development Corporation will launch the daily bulletin for the festival.
Opening Film
Following the inaugural ceremony, the festival will screen Ernest Cole: Lost and Found, directed by Raoul Peck, as its opening film, setting the tone for the diverse range of presentations to follow.
Throughout the six-day festival at the Kairali Sree Nila theatre complex, a total of 335 films from 54 countries will be showcased, including 31 documentaries and 18 fiction short films in the focus categories.
The documentary focus category will present 24 films in several languages, including Marathi, Bengali, Hindi, Santhali, Odia, Kannada, Tamil, Assamese, and Sylheti. These films tackle pressing social issues such as women’s rights, climate challenges, and community movements. A highlight of this category is the animated film Black Clay (2023) by Riah Taipodia, depicting Meghalaya’s traditional black terracotta pottery.
The fiction short films will cover a range of genres, including fantasy, mystery, crime, and comedy, and will be available in various languages such as Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Marathi, Kannada, Konkani, and Punjabi.
Unique Film Offerings
The festival will feature 15 films in the Malayalam non-competition section, comprising two long documentaries, seven short documentaries, and six short films. This segment will present six unique Malayalam short fiction films that poignantly reflect the complexities of life.
A total of 32 films will be displayed in the international non-fiction category, and 57 films in the fiction category. These selections promise to explore a range of themes, genres, and sociopolitical narratives through innovative storytelling methods. Documentaries in the international section will address varied topics, including women’s rights, wildlife conservation, environmental issues, and social justice, featuring films in 23 languages, such as Spanish, French, Arabic, and Portuguese.
In a special segment, the festival will also showcase eight music videos from across India, which will be screened over two days on July 27 and 28 at the Nila Theatre.
