Eminent French-Swiss filmmaker and critic Jean-Luc Godard, the proponent of the French New Wave film movement that paved way for the transformation of world cinema, has been chosen for the Lifetime Achievement Award in this year’s International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). He will participate in the festival through videoconferencing and filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan will receive the award on his behalf. The award comprises a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, the state Film Academy, the organiser of the event, said here on Thursday.
Godard, who has over 45 movies to his credit, was a filmmaker who changed the visual language of the movies through cinemas like ‘Alphaville, ‘A Woman is a Woman’ and soon. The 25th edition of the IFFK, postponed from last month due to COVID-19 pandemic, is scheduled to be held in February-March in compliance with safety protocols. The festival will be held in Thiruvananthapuram from February 10 to 14, in Kochi from February 17 to 21, in Thalassery from February 23 to 27 and in Palakkad from March 1 to 5 in strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocol. Online registration will commence on www.registration.iffk.in at 10 a.m. on Saturday for all the locations. The delegates’ fee has been reduced to ₹750 for the general category and ₹400 for students. While the number of seats in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi have been capped at 2,500, there are 1,500 seats each in Thalassery and Palakkad.
COVID-19-negative certificates issued on the basis of tests undertaken 48 hours prior to the festivals should be produced to obtain the delegate’s passes. The Kerala Chalachitra Academy will also establish facilities for antigen tests in association with the Health Department at the centres. Entry to theatres will be on the basis of reservation. Seat numbers will be allotted to delegates in a manner that ensures social distancing. A commemorative stamp to mark the silver jubilee of the IFFK will be brought out in association with India Post. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will formally launch the stamp after receiving it from the Chief Postmaster General, Kerala Circle, during the presentation of the 50th State Film Awards at Tagore Theatre on Friday.
