Kolkata, Nov 9 (UNI) The wait is over, the time of the year is around the

corner once again when the city of joy will play host to the grand Kolkata

International Film Festival (KIFF).

The 23rd edition of the Kolkata International Film Festival, India's second

oldest film festival, beginning here tomorrow will screen an assemblage of

143 films spanning 53 countries under 16 different categories till November

17.

The film festival will also pay homage to icons of Indian cinema Tom Alter,

Om Puri and Ramananda Sengupta.

Just like every year, the inauguration ceremony will be a starry affair in

the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. It has been

confirmed by the authorities that Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan and

Kamal Haasan, along with Kajol and Mahesh Bhatt and famous British

director Michael Winterbottom will be present at the lamp lighting ceremony

at Netaji Indoor stadium on November 10.

As the Britain focus country in this year festival, there will be 13 films from

the United Kingdom including six of Michael Winterbottom’s films in the

retrospective section. The producer/director of films such as Welcome to Sarajevo,

Trishna or On the Road will also grace the inaugural ceremony to be held at

the Netaji Indoor Stadium.

British Deputy High Commissioner Brush Bucknnell said, “We want to

inspire working together in joint projects with the creative minds in Bengal.

We have collaborations in the literary side now we are looking at the film

festival to really open up possibilities for collaborations.”

The state government has also managed another coup of sorts by getting

to screen a rare Godard film. This will be the first screening of the film in

India. Titled 'Rise and Fall of Small Film Company,' Godard made this film for

television, and was screened in 1986.

According to many cine buffs, this is a watershed moment for an Indian

film festival.

Made in 1986, Godard’s Rise and Fall of Small Company was a lost film

which was recently discovered and digitally restored. Marking the screening

of this Godard classic, the KIFF will be the first festival to bring this film in

India.

The film was released in the first week of October in France as a cinematic

version in 2k format.

Among the films of Winterbottom that will be screened are Trishna, On the

Road and Welcome to Sarajevo.

A 93-minute long internationally acclaimed film, "Yellow" by Iranian

director Mostafa Taqizadeh will be screened.

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