Fri Nov 07 04:10:18 UTC 2025: News Article:

Kolkata International Film Festival Opens, Showcasing Global Cinema Amidst Division

Kolkata, India – November 7, 2025 – The 31st Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) kicked off in Kolkata on Thursday, November 6th, with an inauguration ceremony led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The week-long festival promises a diverse cinematic experience, featuring 215 films from 39 countries to be screened across 21 theaters.

This year’s KIFF places a special emphasis on films from Palestine, and honors the work of acclaimed director Ritwik Ghatak on the 100th anniversary of his birth. Ghatak’s iconic films, including “Ajantrik” and “Meghe Dhaka Tara,” will be screened alongside a seminar and memorial conversation between filmmakers Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Anup Singh. The country of focus for the festival is Poland.

During the inauguration at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium, veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha and singer Arati Mukherjee were presented with the Banga Bibhushan Samman, West Bengal’s highest civilian award. KIFF Chairperson Gautam Ghose highlighted the importance of cinema as a unifying force, stating that it shines “as a beacon amidst chaos” in an increasingly divided world. This year introduces the “Beyond Borders” section, exploring themes of displacement and migration.

Chief Minister Banerjee emphasized cinema’s power to connect the world and humanity, encouraging the showcasing of regional and local films. The opening ceremony featured a screening of the classic Bengali film “Saptapadi.”

The festival will also include centenary tributes to prominent figures like Richard Burton, Sam Peckinpah, Santosh Dutta, Salil Chowdhury, and Raj Khosla. Special tributes will honor filmmakers like Shyam Benegal, Claudia Cardinale, and David Lynch.

Ramesh Sippy, the director of “Sholay,” will deliver the Satyajit Ray Memorial Lecture on November 7th, a highlight of the festival.

KIFF, which began in 1995, is recognized as one of India’s largest and oldest film festivals. Films like Songe (Passing Dreams) by director Rashid Masharawi and Palestine 36 by director Annemarie Jacir will showcase the rich and diverse world of Palestian cinema.

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