Bhubaneswar: The 14th edition of Indian Film Festival of Bhubaneswar (IFFB) by the Film Society of Bhubaneswar (FSB), will kick off from January 22 here at GKCM Odissi Research Centre auditorium.
The 7-day festival will showcase 33 films, including the ones which have won critical acclaim in major film festivals— MAMI, IFFK, KIFF, Dharamsala, Busan, Karlo-Vary, Rotterdam and Berlin.
This year’s festival curation features a section on restored classics, in collaboration with the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF), along with retrospectives and interaction with filmmakers. Landmark Odia film Maya Miriga (1984) by Nirad Mohapatra, restored in 4K from the original negatives by FHF will be screened for the first time in the state as the closing film of the festival on January 28.
Restored classics Ishanou (1990) in Manipuri language by Aribam Syam Sharma will be screened on January 26 and Thampu (1978) in Malayalam language by G Aravindan will be screened on January 25 in pristine quality for the first time in the State.
The films are part of ongoing efforts by FHF to restore Indian cinema classics for preservation and maintaining their artistic integrity. Several of these films have been screened at prestigious international festivals, such as the Cannes, Venice, and Bologna film festivals.
Additionally, the retrospective section will focus on the works of renowned Kannada filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli. Known for his socio-political narratives, Kasaravalli’s films will be showcased to highlight his exploration of Karnataka’s social landscape and evolving society. Six of his films will be screened, including his debut film Ghatashraddha (1977) which will open the festival on january 22. His later works such as Thaayi Saheba (1997), Haseena (2004), Koormavatara (2012) and Illaralaare Allige Hogalaare (2020) will also be screened.
Dibakar Banerjee, one of country’s leading filmmakers, will also be attending the festival to present his new film Tees.
Banerjee, known for his sharp critiques of power, capitalism, and inequality, has an extensive body of work that includes Khosla Ka Ghosla! (2006), Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (2008), and Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar(2021). Banerjee has been active in Indian cinema for over two decades.
There will be post screening discussions with filmmakers Abhijit Chowdhury, ChhatrapalNinawe, Aranya Sahay, Fasil Muhammed and Abhijit Mazumdar. A group of short films have also been selected to showcase new emerging voices from the country.
The festival passes are available on Book My Show for pre-booking and will also be available at the venue during the festival.