Bengaluru International Film Festival begins; Prakash Raj asks govt to allow screening of Palestinian films

BENGALURU: The 17th edition of Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) started on a stormy note Thursday with actor Prakash Raj questioning the state govt's move to stall screening of Palestinian movies.Prakash Raj, who is the brand ambassador of this year's BIFFes, recited a short excerpt from The War Will End, a poem written by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. Reflecting on his earlier association with the festival, Prakash Raj said, "I came here 16 years ago. Today, I see a lot more political intervention in film festivals, and Palestinian movies are now being stalled." Several Palestinian films are currently awaiting clearance from Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), resulting in their screening being put on hold. Referring to a recent incident at the International Literature Festival of Kerala, where Palestinian films were initially barred, Prakash Raj said the Kerala govt had taken a strong stand against the ban. "The govt there ensured the films were screened. I want Karnataka govt to do the same. I request, and also demand, that the state govt protest against such bans and take a firm stand in support of screening these films," he said. Chief minister Siddaramaiah, however, did not directly respond to the issue of Palestinian films in his address. Instead, he spoke about the role of cinema in society: "Films are not merely for entertainment. They are a medium to reflect social realities, communities, injustices and differences. Film festivals help us understand cultures, lifestyles, politics and the land through cinema, and allow us to compare our society with others."Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad, referring to Siddaramaiah, said: "Our CM is not afraid to express his stand, no matter the pressure. We are not scared of anyone when it comes to standing up for what we believe," he said. BIFFes is screening 60 movies directed by women, 300-plus films from different countries and over 100 which have won awards in festivals across the globe. The festival is from Jan 30 to Feb 6 at Cinepolis in Lulu Mall near Majestic, Suchitra Film Society in Banashankari and Kannada Film Artistes' Association near Makkala Koota in Chamarajpet.