18 Indian films selected for 21st IFFK

Thiruvananthapuram: The organisers of the 21st International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) on Friday released the list of 18 Indian films in four categories, that will be screened at the festival which will take place here from December 9-16.

Over the years IFFK, which is staged soon after the International Film Festival of India in Goa, has now become a popular gala. It is organised by Kerala State Chalachitra Academy for the state-run Cultural Affairs Department.

The selection was made by a panel of experts and it includes two Malayalam films "Manhole", directed by debutant Vidhu Vincent and "Kaadu Pookkunna Neram" by Biju, which will compete in the international section.

The other two films that will compete for international honours are Saibal Mitra's Bengali film "Chitrokar" ("The Last Mural" and Santwana Bardoloi's Assamese film "Midnight Keteki".

There are seven Malayalam films in the Malayalam Cinema category and another seven films from other Indian languages in the Indian Cinema Category.

The organisers have decided to double the grant to Malayalam Films selected for the IFFK to Rs 200,000 and has set up a special cell at the IFFK to promote these films.