Big B, Shah Rukh Khan to star at Kolkata Film Festival launch

A heady mix of Bollywood, Hollywood and world cinema lies in store for the city’s movie buffs and fans alike as the 20th edition of the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) unravels on Monday evening.

The eight-day fest will see Bollywood greats like Kolkata’s  favourite ‘Jamai’ Amitabh Bachchan,  Shah Rukh Khan and a host of film personalities up the glam quotient at the Netaji Indoor Stadium on Monday evening.

The inaugural film selected is the Italian movie Italo Barocco by Alessia Scarso. The inaugural ceremony will be presided over by the West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee along with the Bachchan family, Shah Rukh Khan, actress Deepika Padukone, veteran actress Tanuja and actor Irrfan Khan.

Screening about 137 films from 60 countries, the fest will see 40 international delegates and 15 segments. There will be 31 Indian films, including 13 Bengali films. The festival will conclude on 17 November.

There are a few firsts in this year’s festival. For the first time, the fest turns competitive with 15 films by omen directors from across the globe competing for the top jury award — the Golden Royal Bengal Tiger trophy in the Women Directors segment.

Headed by award-winning Australian filmmaker Paul Cox, the jury will comprise Iranian director Niki Karimi and Indian filmmaker Amol Palekar.

The inclusion of 2014 French drama and experimental 3D film Goodbye to Language by renowned French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard  is sure to make waves. A special section has been earmarked as a tribute to legendary Bengali actor Suchitra Sen, who died on 17 January this year. Seven of her films will be screened.