SMS seat booking at IFFK

Perhaps for the first time in the history of Indian film festivals, the organisers of the 14th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), commencing on December 11, have decided to introduce SMS seat reservation system to supplement online booking of tickets.

"We have decided to introduce the facility because many delegates, especially those coming from outside the city, do not have easy access to the Internet, even though we do provide kiosks at theatres,” festival artistic director Bina Paul Venugopal said, adding that the mobile number to which the SMS should be sent would be announced later.

The delegates will get a confirmation SMS message as soon as the booking is made. Delegates will have to spend the charges of an ordinary text message only for booking a seat. Before the festival commences, a trial message will be sent to all delegates who have registered and procured their passes.

"As this is the first time we are introducing SMS booking; there could be some initial hiccups. As far as SMS traffic is concerned, our software will be able to manage up to 25 SMS a second,” the official said. Details and instruction of online and mobile SMS seat booking will be uploaded on web site www.iffk.in a few days before the festival commences.