Thu Dec 05 22:36:00 UTC 2024: ## Kolkata International Film Festival to Showcase Digitally Restored Classics

**KOLKATA, INDIA** – The 30th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) will feature digitally restored versions of six iconic 20th-century Indian films, celebrating the nation’s cinematic heritage. The festival, running from October 5th to 10th, will screen these classics at Nandan II and Radha Studio.

The restored films, produced between 1969 and 1990, represent a diverse range of Indian languages and filmmaking styles. They include: *Manthan* (Shyam Benegal), *Thampu* (Govindan Aravindan), *Ghatashraddha* (Girish Kasaravalli), *Ishanou* (Aribam Syam Sharma), *Maya Miriga* (Nirad N. Mohapatra), and *Tero Nadir Parey* (Barin Saha). The restoration work was undertaken by the Film Heritage Foundation, Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project, and a joint facility of the National Film Development Corporation and the National Film Archive of India.

KIFF Chairperson Goutam Ghose highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating that digital restoration allows audiences to experience these films in their intended quality, improving visual contrast and tonal quality, especially in black and white films. The festival will also showcase other cult classics, such as *Chokh* (Utaplendu Chakraborty), projected from its original 35mm negative for a unique viewing experience. Ghose emphasized the significance of preserving and showcasing these films for a new generation. The event follows a growing trend among international film festivals to screen restored classics.

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