Dr Biju and Lenin Rajendran to return their FIPRESCI awards

The International Film Festival of Kerala 2014 is yet to take off this year but voices of filmmakers dissatisfied with many decisions of organisers have been rising from various quarters. After Ranjith who withdrew his film Njaan from the fest, Dr Biju and Lenin Rajendran said in a press conference held at Trivandrum yesterday that they are planning to give back the FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) awards received in the past, in the context of the academy axing them this year, and terming the ones given so far as of having just ‘paper value’.
Dr Biju says, “Academy Chairman Rajeevnath recently said that the prestigious FIPRESCI and NETPAC (Network for Promotion of Asian Cinema) awards, which were given until last year, have only the value of paper, as they will be discontinued from this year! If they are of no validity, what’s the point in keeping it with us? His comment is insulting to the award winners till date, including veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, who has bagged six FIPRESCI awards.”
Dr Biju had won the award for Veettilekkulla Vazhi in 2010 and Lenin Rajendran had bagged it for 2011 release Makaramanju. The NETPAC and FIPRESCI awards were given to regional filmmakers since 2007. The filmmakers are also against the inclusion of two films, which were lined up for screening last year at the festival, again this year. “IFFK, renowned as a filmfest of the common man, has its office at a five star hotel this year and it looks like the overall policy of the organisers is to keep the public away,” adds Dr Biju.