Bengaluru: The 12th edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFES) came under fire over the guestlist for the inauguration which featured over 67 politicians and only four members from the film industry.
The film festival, which is expected to go on till March 4, was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa at Kanteerva Stadium, Bengaluru on Wednesday, February 26.
Apart from CM Yediyurappa, Union Ministers D V Sadananda Gowda and Nirmala Sitharaman, Deputy CMs Dr. C N Ashwath Narayan and Laxman Savadi, MLAs, MPs, and MLCs are expected to make an appearance at the festival.
From the film fraternity side, Kannada actor Yash, Bollywood producer Boney Kapoor, musician Sonu Nigam, and actress and former MP Jayapradha have been invited.
Speaking to TNIE, a Sandalwood director expressed his displeasure at the state government’s failure to acknowledge Kannada cinema.
He said, “Kannada cinema is popular internationally, and many of our movies are screened in foreign countries. It is unfortunate that our own government does not recognise us. There are many senior and well-known artistes from Kannada cinema, including Anant Nag, Dwarakish, and B Saroja Devi, who have contributed to the world of film. But none of them find any mention on the invitation. We are aware that the event is sponsored by the government, but that does not mean it is a political event.”
After noticing that the official website for BIFFES did not have any Kannada-language translations, actor T S Nagabharana shot off a letter to the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy Chairperson. He wrote, “This is a violation of government orders. The festival is conducted with the taxpayers’ money, who are mainly Kannadigas.”
A total of 220 films will be screen across four different venues in the city: Orion Mall, Rajajinagar; Dr. Raj Bhavan, Chamrajpete; Navarang Theatre, Rajajinagar; and Suchitra Film Society, Banashankari as part of the festival.
