BENGALURU: The film fraternity and enthusiasts have an assurance from the state government of an international-standard film city.
The assurance of a new film city was made by chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday at the inaugural session of the 14th Bengaluru International Film Festival at Vidhana Soudha.
"The film city work will be done soon. This will be of international standard. We are inviting people having experience in the film world to create a new studio. It will have a digital studio too," the CM said.
"Once the film city work is done, I want Hollywood to come and make movies here. I am sure it will happen," he said.
The film festival will be held till March 30.
The inaugural session was marked by performances by artists, and a rendition remembering Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar.
Members of the Hindi, Telugu, Kannada cinema were present on the occasion.
Among dignitaries present at the formal inaugural were film director and writer Kamakhya Narayan Singh, Telugu screenwrite V Vijayendra P, Kantara fame actor Sapthami Gowda, actor Abishek Ambareesh and film director Govind Nihalani.
V Vijayendra who started his speech in Kannada recalled the birth of his son S S Rajamouli in Karnataka.
Nihalani, who is a student of cinematographer V K Murthy, who was remembered during the occasion, expressed hope of great achievements from Sri Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic College, of which he and his mentor were alumni.
State revenue minister R Ashok said more than Rs 5.5 crore were spent for the event so people in Bengaluru can watch international-level movies.
He said that a new cinema studio is envisioned in Mysuru.
Screening schedule can be found on the Biffes website --
https://biffes.org/screening-schedule.