IFFT begins on January 9

The fifth International Film Festival of Thrissur (IFFT) will be held at the venues of Goergettan’s Ragam and�Elite International auditorium from January 9. It is the second largest film festival in Kerala; the largest is in Thiruvananthapuram. The five-day festival will have a collection of classics and contemporary films, according to the organizers.

A package of Arab films, including those of Egyptian filmmaker Youssef Chahine, is the main attraction of the fair. In the Indian session, films by renowned directors Girish Kasaravalli, Adoor Gopalakrishnan and T.V. Chandran will be screened. ‘Masters and Classics’, ‘Children’s films’, ‘Young films’, ‘Beyond Universe’, 'Folk waves' and ‘Contemporary World Films’ are the major sessions in the fest.

Films from various film institutes have been included in the ‘Young films’ package. The ‘Beyond Universe’ package will have 2001: A Space Odyssey, a 1968 science fiction film directed by Stanley Kubrick. Seminars, painting exhibitions and lectures will also be organized in connection with the festival.