Kolkata Int’l Film Festival brings global cinema and Bengal’s spirit together

KOLKATA: A film festival isn’t just about screening movies. It’s also a platform for exchanging ideas and sparking debates. This year, the 30th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), under the leadership of Goutam Ghose, strikes a thoughtful balance between intellectual discussions and mass appeal. From Asian premieres and special screenings to seminars, symposiums and exhibitions, the festival has drawn cinephiles and cinema students alike.

Filmmaker Sudeshna Roy, a member of the KIFF committee, said: “A film festival caters to two groups — one watching popular films and another drawn to deeper reflections. Goutam Ghose has bridged these worlds by including seminars and symposiums alongside spaces like cine adda and public screenings.”

Ghose, who has attended film festivals across the world, wanted to bring all those flavours to the 30th KIFF. “Film festivals should go beyond showcasing movies. They must inspire deeper engagement with cinema through discussions, debates and exchanges of perspectives. That’s why we have introduced nine sessions this year. A true international film festival should give equal importance to screenings, seminars and symposiums,” said Ghose, chairman of 30th KIFF.

For students of cinema, the festival offered thought-provoking seminars on topics like perception change in cinema with changes in technology, intolerance, global justice and media, what is Indian national cinema, tribute to Kumar Shahani and explosion of shorts and documentaries in the digital era.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, for whom the festival holds special significance, has ensured it connects with the masses. Since taking office, she has opened the festival to a wider audience and encouraged interactions between foreign delegates and Indian stars. At every inauguration, she urges foreign delegates to explore Indian, especially Bengali, films and invites them to shoot in Bengal.

This year’s theme, ‘World Cinema Meets Bengal’s Soul’, reflects her vision. The installations and theme song, conceptualised by the Chief Minister, prominently feature soil (maati), symbolising Bengal’s cultural essence and aligning with the party’s slogan, Maa, Maati, Manush. Arna Das, a third-year student, shared her excitement about the festival’s visual elements. “I’m loving the installations. Every year, the committee ensures there are beautiful backdrops for photographs,” she said.