Will IFFK move from Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi? Film lovers worried

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Allegations have surfaced that efforts are underway to shift the venue of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), the flagship cultural event of the state capital, to Kochi.

The speculation comes after Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan announced in the budget that the J.C. Daniel International Film City “Chithranagaram” would be established in Kochi at a cost of Rs 100 crore. One of the key objectives of the project is to create a permanent venue for hosting the international film festival.

Every year, on the second Friday of December, film enthusiasts from across Kerala and outside the state arrive in Thiruvananthapuram to experience IFFK’s unique atmosphere and its celebration of world cinema.

Even when the proposal for a permanent Film Festival Complex in Thiruvananthapuram was discussed, several film lovers, including international visitors, had supported the existing festival format. During the previous UDF government’s tenure, there were also attempts to shift the festival venue to Kozhikode.

The popular festival is currently held across 15 theatres in the capital city. Government-run theatres such as Tagore, Kairali, Sree, Kalabhavan, and Nila are among the main venues.

Although government sources have indicated that there are no immediate plans to shift IFFK from Thiruvananthapuram, the possibility of a venue change could become a topic of discussion once Chithranagaram becomes operational.

Will Chitranjali be affected?
Concerns have also been raised over whether the proposed Chithranagaram project in Kochi could affect the future plans of Chitranjali Studio. The state government is currently carrying out renovation work at Chitranjali Studio with an investment of Rs 150 crore. The first phase of the renovation, completed at a cost of Rs 63.6 crore, was finished in March. Once the renovation is completed, Chitranjali is expected to become a major centre for the production of Malayalam films, as well as films in other Indian languages and international productions.

“The reports that IFFK will be shifted from Thiruvananthapuram are baseless. IFFK will continue in Thiruvananthapuram with all its glory.”
- P.C. Vishnunath, Cultural Minister