The 16th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) is set to take place from March 1 to March 8, 2025. Organised by the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, the festival is FIAPF accredited and promises to be an exciting week for film enthusiasts. The event will be hosted in Bengaluru, a city renowned for its rich cultural heritage and vibrant film scene.
With the theme “Universal Peace in Diversity”, BIFFes 2025 will screen over 200 films from 60 countries. The films will be showcased across 13+ screens, including 11 screens at PVR Cinemas in Orion Mall, Rajajinagar, which will serve as the main venue. The festival is expected to draw over 10,000 delegates, making it a key event on the international film festival calendar.
In addition to the screenings, BIFFes will feature competitive sections for Asian, Indian, and Kannada cinema, with cash prizes awarded during the closing ceremony. Artistic Director Vidyashankar Jois, who has helmed the festival since 2006, continues to lead the charge in making the event a memorable one.
Apart from the screenings, the festival will host several academic events, including seminars, workshops, and master classes aimed at enhancing the knowledge of filmmaking. There will also be interactive sessions with renowned filmmakers, such as Chidambaram of Manjummel Boys fame, director Rajkumar Periasamy, and ace cinematographer Ravi Varman.
One of the key highlights of this year’s festival is the centenary tributes to legendary filmmakers Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor, and Ritwik Ghatak, as well as popular Kannada actor K.S. Ashwath. A restored version of Girish Kasaravalli’s National Award-winning film Ghatashraddha (1977) will also be screened.
The festival will pay tribute to Indian filmmaker Shyam Benegal with a retrospective section featuring some of his notable films such as Ankur (1974), Nishant (1975), Bhumika (1977), Manthan (1976), and Mammo (1994). Also, acclaimed international filmmakers Krzysztof Kieslowski and Wim Wenders will be featured in retrospectives.
Actor Sadhu Kokila, Chairman of the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, hinted at open-air screenings, aiming to recreate the charm of watching classic films like Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu (1974) and Naagarahaavu (1972) using 16mm projectors.
This year, BIFFes will also see popular actor Kishore as its ambassador. Registration for the event is now open, with discounted passes available for film professionals, students, senior citizens, and members of film societies.
