Despite funds shortage, film fest is a hit

With International Film Festival of India pitching tent in Goa permanently, film societies have sprung up across the country to expose the local people to good foreign films.

Like the film festival organised by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Images (MAMI), the annual Bengalooru International Film Festival (BIFF) too it seems is here to stay.

While the IFFI had a budget of around Rs 10-12 crore, with Rs 2.3 crore earmarked for a workshop alone this year, the BIFF 2007 has a budget of only around Rs 60 lakh.

The government pitched in with 40 per cent of the amount. But, the fares offered were a treat for the serious movie-goer. The 2007 edition, which was also the first one, had seen a budget of Rs 20 lakh with the government pitching in 80 per cent of the amount.

"We may need no government support if we are able to get enough sponsors," said V N Subba Rao, chairman of the organising committee of the festival. The lack of a permanent venue for screening the films has been a cause of concern for the organisers.

Suchitra Film Society, which organised the BIFF along with the government, has a small piece of land where it hopes to build an auditorium to screen movies. "But, it is in a far end of the city. It is always better to screen films in the city-centre," added Rao.

Multiplexes now allow them to hold almost all screenings at one venue. Hence, unlike last year when the films were screened at multiple venues, this time a multiplex was able to screen almost all films. The one lament is that they could not host more delegates.

The cosmopolitan culture of the city ensured that there was interest in all the movies, no matter what language they were in. The festival with fares like documentaries 'Bitter Bread', on how the Italian migrants to the US, from 1880s up to World War II faced discrimination and racism, made one travel into the minds of those discriminated against.

"Film must help one learn about life," said a renowned director at the festival. That is what the films seemed to do and one film after another got an applause at the end of the screening.

With 500-odd dedicated people to enjoy the fare every day, it was a treat for the organisers. The festival this year is being touted as a big success. It is set to see over 150 movies and documentaries from some 25 countries across the world. Despite the much bandied-about status of Bangalore as the IT capital of the country, it failed to see a turnout from the IT crowds.

"We had contacted many IT firms, but the employees despite their keenness to watch the movies, could not enjoy the fair,'' said H N Narahari Rao, Director, BIFF. "Their jobs would not permit them to spare time,'' he added.

The venue, Vision Cinemas with just three screens, one a mini-auditorium, was a constraint for the organisers. Vision is planning to add four more screens. Inadequate funds also prevented the organisers from inviting enough experts and celebrities.