The much-talked-about Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) is yet to get a film bazaar of its own. This means while the festival might be making waves, struggling indie film-makers are not able to make any business out of it.
It is high time the festival gets a film bazaar, which will provide a business platform for Kannada and other regional films, say film-makers. Till date, only two Kannada films have been selected to the now famous Goa Film Bazaar — Hatti Hannu Mattu Kanaja and Thithi . Directors believe a film bazaar at BIFFes would ensure more focus on Kannada films.
B. Suresha, whose film Devara Nadalli is set for release this week, says he had difficulty finding distributors even within Karnataka. Suneel Raghavendra, whose film Puta Tirugisi Nodu was screened at BIFFes, says it was tough to find a distributor and get a commercial release at other centres.
But not every film festival can have an international film bazaar. For that, the festival has to be recognised by the International Federation of Film Producers’ Association (FIAPF). This would bring international producers and distributors to the fest. At present, only three Indian festivals — Goa, Kolkota and Kerala — are recognised by FIAPF.
A fixed annual schedule and at least eight editions have to be completed for this recognition. This was the eighth edition of BIFFes, and it will now apply for the recognition, says Rajendra Singh Babu, chairman, Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy.
“However, the academy will organise an Indian film bazaar from the coming edition as this needs no recognition from FIAPF. We will move towards an international film bazaar after we are recognised,” he says.
However, does Kannada produce enough independent films to warrant a film bazaar? Prakash Babu, director of Hatti Hannu Mattu Kanaja , says there isn’t a vibrant indie scene in Kannada. “Creating our own bazaar is just shying away from global competition. Let the film-makers compete on a global platform,” he says.