More film festivals likely in Kozhikode in coming years

The Kerala State Chalachithra Academy is proactively considering the demand to organise more international film festivals in Kozhikode, its secretary C. Ajoy has said.

Addressing the media ahead of the four-day Regional International Film Festival of Kerala (RIFFK) to be held in the city from Friday (August 8, 2025), Mr. Ajoy pointed out that Kozhikode has had a symbiotic link with the festival. “The first IFFK was held here in 1996. Later, Thiruvananthapuram was chosen as its permanent venue. There are around 15 screens in the capital where nearly 15,000 people converge every year for the annual event. However, efforts will be made to bring more such festivals to the city, considering the large number of movie enthusiasts here,” Mr. Ajoy added.

Meanwhile, Kozhikode Mayor Beena Philip, who was also on the dais, said that the Tagore Centenary Hall, which had been demolished to make way for a new structure, would have at least four screens once the work is completed in two years. The city already has the State-owned Kairali and Sree movie halls. Steps would also be taken to arrange more screening venues with the support of private theatre owners. “Thus, in another two years, the city may have at least 25 screens where films can be exhibited. We shall host bigger events then,” Ms. Philip added.

As many as 58 films screened at the last IFFK held in Thiruvananthapuram will be shown here from Friday at Kairali, Sree and Coronation movie halls. Saeed Akhtar Mirza, Chairperson, K.R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts, Kottayam, will inaugurate the event in the morning at Kairali Theatre. The Seed of the Sacred Fig, directed by Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, will be the opening film. Meenakshi Jayan, who recently won the Best Actress award at the Shanghai International Film Festival, actor Gopikrishnan Varma, known for his role as Guddu in the Aamir Khan-starrer Sitaare Zameen Par, and actor Sudheesh will be present, among others. Open forums, to be held over the following three days, will see participation from directors and film crew, according to the organisers.