Portuguese film 'I’m Still Here' to inaugurate IFFK 2024
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The 29th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) is set to kick off on December 13 with the opening film I’m Still Here, a 2024 political biographical drama from Portugal directed by Walter Salles.
This Brazil-France co-production tells the poignant story of a mother and activist in search of her missing husband, a dissident politician, during Brazil’s military dictatorship.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will officially inaugurate the festival at a ceremony at the Nisagandhi auditorium. The event will also honor Ann Hui, a celebrated actor-director from Hong Kong, with the IFFK Lifetime Achievement Award, announced State Culture Minister Saji Cheriyan.
This year’s festival will showcase 177 films from 68 countries across multiple categories. In the prestigious International Competition section, 14 films will compete for the "Suvarna Chakoram" (Golden Pheasant) award, which includes a cash prize of Rs 20 lakh. Other awards include Rs 4 lakh for the "Rajatha Chakoram" (Silver Pheasant), Rs 3 lakh for the best debut director, Rs 2 lakh for the audience poll winner, and Rs 1 lakh for the best debut director from India.
Renowned French cinematographer Agnès Godard will chair the five-member International Jury overseeing the competition.
As part of the festival, a unique digital art exhibition, Cinema Alchemy: A Digital Art Tribute, will celebrate the contributions of legendary filmmakers. The exhibition is curated by noted Indian filmmaker T. K. Rajeev Kumar.