Spotlight on German films at 25th Kolkata Int'l Film Fest from Nov 8 to 15

Kolkata: The 25th Kolkata International Film Festival will see the presence of big Bollywood stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Jaya Bachchan, Rakhi Gulzar and Mahesh Bhatt on the inauguration day.

The festival, which will be organised from November 8 to 15, will have Germany as 'Focus Country.'

"This year, for the first time, two 3 D films will be screened in Priya and Bijali. This apart, German films will be screened at Nandan. There will be films for children on November 14, the occasion of children's day," said Indranil Sen, Minister of State for Information and Cultural Affairs (I & CA) Department, after launching the signature tune of the 25th Kolkata International Film Festival.

"The signature tune is conceptualized by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Bickram Ghosh has come up with the music of the tune," Sen said.

The 25th Kolkata International Film Festival will begin on November 8 in a star-studded inaugural function at Netaji Indoor Stadium.

The festival promises good dosages of adrenaline rush for cinephiles from November 9 to 15 at Nandan, Rabindra Sadan, Sisir Manch, Navina Cinema, Priya Cinema, New Empire, Nazrul Tirtha, Bijali Cinema, Ajanta Cinema, Chalacharita Satabarsha Bhavan and many other cinema halls in the city.

"This year, we received 2,492 applications. Out of which, only 367 films (214 feature films and 152 short and documentary films) have been shortlisted for screening," said Vivek Kumar, principal secretary, Information and Cultural Affairs department.

Along with the Royal Bengal Tiger Trophy, the best film will be awarded Rs 51 lakh and the best director will be awarded Rs 21 lakh.

In the Indian languages competition section, the best film will be awarded Rs 7 lakh and the best director will get Rs 5 lakh along with Hiralal Sen Memorial Trophies (awarded since 2017). The best short film will be awarded Rs 5 lakh. The best documentary film will be awarded Rs 3 lakh.