Kamal at the International Film Festival
The Kerala International Film Festival is an annual event.
This year's festival started yesterday at the Nishagandhi open air theatre in Thiruvananthapuram. Kamal Hassan lit the lamp and inaugurated the festival, saying such festivals should take place in Tamilnadu also.
Kerala Culture Minister MA Baby headed the function. Actor Mohanlal participated. Twelve personalities who have contributed greatly to Malayalam films were honored.
The festival of 8 days will feature 231 films from 53 countries. In the competition category are 14 films. The best film will earn a gold medal and a purse of Rs.10 lakhs.
The head of the selection committee is Iranian director Jafar Panahi, whose film 'White Balloon' touched cinema goers world wide.
'Periyar' will be screened at the festival.
