Chandigarh is all set to make cinematic history with the debut of the Cinevesture International Film Festival (CIFF), slated to run from March 27 to 31. This groundbreaking event marks the city's first foray into the international film festival scene. CIFF unveiled its impressive lineup of more than 67 films spanning various genres, including world cinema, Indian features, timeless classics, and short films.
The festival's grand opening will feature the French culinary drama "The Taste of Things," starring renowned actress Juliette Binoche. Directed by Tran Anh Hung, the film earned accolades at Cannes, securing Hung the prestigious Best Director prize. Wrapping up the festival will be the chilling South Korean horror drama "Exhuma" (Pamyo), which emerged as the highest-grossing film in South Korea in 2024.
CIFF promises a diverse selection of cinematic treasures, with 24 award-winning international features showcased in the World Cinema section, 17 independent gems in the India Unveiled category, and 27 captivating shorts in the Brief Encounters segment. Additionally, the festival will present a specially curated lineup of children's films and timeless classics from acclaimed directors such as Satyajit Ray and Guru Dutt.
Attendees can look forward to screenings of acclaimed titles like the Holocaust drama "The Zone of Interest," which recently clinched the International Feature Film Oscar, as well as Palme d'Or winner Hirokazu Kore-eda's "Monster," and last year's Best Actor Oscar-winning film "The Whale." Documentary enthusiasts will also be treated to compelling narratives like "Seven Winters in Tehran."
The festival will be graced by the presence of notable stars including Richa Chadha, Ali Fazal, Roshan Mathew, and Gulshan Devaiah, among others. The opening and closing films will be screened outdoors at the Government Museum & Arts Gallery in Sector 10, Chandigarh, with additional open-air screenings scheduled for classic films like "Jalsaghar," "Kaagaz Ke Phool," and "The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone."
In celebration of the centenaries of Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand, an immersive cinema exhibition has been set up in the Rose Garden Underpass in collaboration with the National Film Archives and students from the Chandigarh College of Architecture. Children aged 10-17 will have the opportunity to enjoy specially curated films at Cinepolis Jagat.
CIFF, conceptualized by Cinevesture Pvt Ltd founder and CEO Nina Lath, aims to serve as a platform for both audiences and producers. The festival will feature a CIFF market to facilitate business interactions within the filmmaking community, along with workshops, masterclasses, and panel discussions.
Supported by the Government Museum & Art Gallery, Chandigarh, Department of Tourism Chandigarh, and Chandigarh Administration, CIFF has enlisted retired IAS VS Kundu as its festival director and industry veteran Bina Paul as artistic director.
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Kundu emphasized the festival's significance, stating, "CIFF marks a historic milestone for Chandigarh, supported by Chandigarh Tourism and Administration. It stands as a testament to our commitment to host world-class cinema events." Paul echoed this sentiment, expressing the festival's aim to bring a diverse array of cinematic experiences to Chandigarh, catering to audiences of all ages and tastes.