CHENNAI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL                                             

CHENNAI, Capital of Tamil Nadu , southern part of India occupies a pride of place where INDIAN CINEMA is concerned, not only in terms of the staggering number of films made here but also on the strength of the high degree of cinematic sophistication and excellence, both creative and technical, it has achieved.

Though Film Festivals have come to be regarded regular annual event in other cities in India like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta and Trivandrum, it is surprising that CHENNAI did not organize any International Film Festival from 1991 to 2003. To afford the discerning film buffs of Chennai an opportunity to see a veritable panorama of good cinema from all parts of the world that INDO CINE APPRECIATION FOUNDATION (ICAF), a film society, organized the maiden CHENNAI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (CIFF) in association with National Film Development Corporation(NFDC) from to 7th Dec 2003 screening 63 films from 17 countries. Eminent film personalities of India like Mr.A.R.Rahman, Ms.Kushboo and Mr.Girish Kasaravalli participated in the 1st festival.

Encouraged by the success achieved in the maiden festival, "ICAF" organized the 2nd CIFF from 17th to 24th Dec 2004 in association with NFDC. 89 films from 27 countries were presented in the festival. Mr.Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Dada Saheb Phalke Award winner graced the festival along with Mr.Bharathi Rajaa and Mr.Bala, renowned Film Directors of the South and Mr.Taieb Louhichi of Tunisia, Mr.Paolo Minuto, Vice President of the International Federation of Film Societies, Italy, Ms.Paulos from Bolivia and Prof.Etami Borjan of Croatia besides the well-known Director Ms.Nathalie Schmidt from France participated in the festival. lnteraction with Directors was arranged on a daily basis during this festival. A seminar on Film Festivals and World Perspective with dignitaries from foreign countries was also conducted. The Print and Electronic Media extensively covered the festival.

Inspired by the grand success of the two earlier festivals, the 3rd CIFF was organized with the support of Govt. of India, Govt. of Tamilnadu and various Cultural Organizations like Max Mueller Bhavan, Alliance Francaise, British Council, besides the American Consulate, Japan Consulate, Italian Consulate Indo-Polish Chamber of Commerce during Dec 2005 which had sections like.

WORLD CINEMA, / TRIBUTE (to Mr.lsmail Merchant) / RETROSPECTIVE(of Yasujiro Ozu, Huppert, Vera Chytilova) / COUNTRY FOCUS(Australia, Serbia, and YOUNG TURKS-HEIMAT FILMS, Germany) / INDIAN PANORAMA. 102 films from 34 countries were presented at this festival. The 3rd Festival was inaugurated by Shri.S.K.Arora , I.A.S. Secretary , Information & Broadcasting , Govt. of India , New Delhi. Prominent film personalities like Ms. Aviva Kempner from USA, Ms.Margarathe von Trotta from Germany (with her film ROSENSTRASSE, as Inaugural Film), Mr.Alkinos Tsilimidos, Director from Australia, Mr.Krzysztof Krauze, Director, Ms.Joanna Kos, Script Writer from Poland, Ms.Rada Sesic from Rotterdam and other eminent film Directors from India like Mr.Ameer, Mr.Anup Kurien, Ms.Rwita Dutta, Mr.Albert, Mr.Salim Padiyath and Mr. Pradeep Nair participated in the festival with their films. Mr.Tamleh, Director, Cultural House of Islamic Republic of Iran also participated in the festival. There were interactive sessions with the Directors on conclusion of screening of their films almost on a daily basis. Hon’ble Shri.Dasari Narayana Rao , Minister for Coal & Mines, Govt. of India participated at the valedictory function.

Enthused by the success of the above festivals, the 4th CIFF was organised from 15th to 22th Dec 2006. Thiru Dayanidhi Maran , Hon’ble Union Minister for Communication & IT, Govt. of India inaugurated the festival. 95 feature films , 2 documentaries & 10 short films from 40 countries were presented at the festival. Rolf de Heer’s films from Australia were presented as a retrospective, seven films from Korea were screened under the category “COUNTRY FOCUS”, five films under the caption “CRIME FICTION” from Poland were also presented. Film Directors Mr.Abu Sayeed (Bangaladesh) , Ms.Milena Andonovo (Bulgaria), Ms.Manju Borah (India), Mr.K.N.T.Sastri(India), Ms.Sepideh Farsi(Iran), Mr.Min Kyu Dong(Korea), Mr.Chil-in Kwon(Korea), Ms.Rada Sesic(Netherlands)Mr.Mohan Babu (Producer/Actor),Mr.Lu Yi Tong (China), Mr.Hunt Hoe(Canada) participated in the festival. There was a seminar on World Cinema addressed by Mr.Foster Hirsch, Prof. of Film, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York which was attended by a large number of film buffs.. Shri.Shyam Benegal, veteran film maker and President of the Federation of Film Societies of India(F.F.S.I).,Mumbai addressed the valedictory function. Mr.Mohamed Bendjebbour, Audio Visual Attache , Embassy of France in India ,and Ms.Revathi, Filmmaker/Cine Artiste graced the occasion as Guest of Honour.

There was a very good coverage the festival both at the and Electronic Media. All the shows were fully attended and the response from film and lovers of cinema was overwhelming. The festival also provided ample opportunity for young and upcoming cine technicians and Directors who attended the festival in large numbers.

Thus, the CIFF has now a mega event at CHENNAI. We are sure that with the film lovers of serious Cinema in CHENNAI it will not only grow in strength but also find a prominent place in the International map of Film festivals in the years to come.

DFFI PATRONAGE
For all the 4 previous film festivals, we (at ICAF) have had the support, patronage and co-operation from the Directorate of Film Festivals, India (DFFI), New Delhi, who have been kind enough to recommend internationally acclaimed films for presentation at our festivals. This valuable patronage from DFFI has enhanced the prestige of Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF), for which we (at ICAF), are highly indebted to DFFI. We are confident of enjoying DFFI’s continued patronage in the future too.

HIGHLIGHTS OF FESTIVAL
CIFF is the first film festival of its kind organized exclusively by a Film Society in India

There is a proposal to have a competitive section for Asian Films with eminent Jury Members from India and Abroad

The programme of the Festival will be divided into following sections:

WORLD CINEMA
A section of films produced between 2006 and 2007 from across the world to present the latest trend in International cinema.

RETROSPECTIVE
Screening of films of eminent film personalities

FOCUS ON ONE COUNTRY
A Retrospective of films from a specific country to showcase the major strides being made in cinema.

HOMAGE
Tributes to film makers

SPECIAL SCREENING
To show case old outstanding films, from all over the world

The Festival Authorities reserve the right to exclude any film without assigning any reason.

REGULATIONS
The festival is for feature films only. Rules of FIAPF will be strictly followed

There is no entry fee

Entry is open to 35mm feature films completed between 2006 and 2007

Films entered must be subtitled in English

Last Date of Entry-October31,2007

SELECTION
A selection committee will be incharge of the official selection

The committee will preview the feature films on VHS(PAL) video cassettes, video CD or DVD.

Films must be submitted with English Subtitles (if the dialogue is in any language other than English).

The decision of the Selection Committee will be final and binding and shall be communicated to the entrant by November 15, 2007.

Postal charges towards pre-selection cassettes will be met by the entrant.

The selected film print should reach Chennai by December 5, 2007

VITAL INFORMATION
Prints received for the Festival will be insured by the CIFF against fire, theft, and damage, from the time of receipt to the time of despatch. The insurance cover will be for the cost of the print specified in the entry form. The print will be despatched to the entrant or authorized nominees/representatives within 15 days after the festival. One way freight will be borne by the organizers. All entrants grant to CIFF permission to have two screenings of their films during the festival. Entrants of the films selected for the festival grant CIFF the right to use the footage and/or title and information from their films for promotional purposes.