Kerala Film Academy To Promote Movie Fests Abroad

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the aim of spreading the legacy of Malayalam films across the globe, the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy is extending support for organising film festivals in different world countries.

The state-run Academy, organisers of the well-known International Film Festival of Kerala, has already offered support to conduct a Malayalam film festival in Malaysia in April and discussions are on to organise similar fests in Europe, USA, Germany and Saudi Arabia.

The Academy would play the role of facilitator in these festivals and it would help selecting films for screening in these galas, a top official said.

“The festivals are organized by local Malayali organizations and other Indian agencies in these countries. We are playing the role of facilitators in these galas and the Academy has no financial investment in them," Academy Chairman Rajeev Nath told PTI. The first such festival would be held in Malaysia from April 18 to 24, he said.

The seven-day festival in Malaysia is organized jointly by Indian High Commission, All Malaysians Malayali Association (AMMA) and a local television channel there with the support of the Academy, he said.

"As many as 25 films, including old and new ones, will be screened in the festival. The selected movies comprise award winning ones, evergreen classics and blockbusters."

"Viewers can see a real cross section of Malayalam films in the festivals," he said.

People would get a chance to view blockbusters like Mohanlal-starrer "Drishyam" and '1983' along with critically acclaimed "Munnariyippu" and award-winning "Oralpokkam" in the Malaysian movie fest, Nath, who himself is a national award winning director, said.

Malayali associations in Europe, America and Saudi Arabia have also sought help in conducting similar festivals in those countries and discussions are going on in this regard, he added.

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