The Hindu : Kerala News : Next year, watch IFFK in multiplex

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Thursday, Dec 13, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala

Next year, watch IFFK in multiplex

Plan to introduce seat reservation facility for festival delegates

Rs. 50 lakh to convert Tagore Theatre to a 5-screen complex
Number of delegates expected to go up in coming years

Organisers of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) are planning a “gift” for the delegates of the next edition of the festival.

In all probability, film enthusiasts who throng the festival venues will not have to shuttle from one theatre to another to watch films.

Viewing will be made a more pleasurable experience with the conversion of Tagore Theatre into a festival complex.

Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac has allotted Rs.50 lakhs for converting the auditorium into a multiplex housing five screens.

The office of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy too will be housed in the complex.

The academy and the Department of Culture are working in unison for the project to materialise at the earliest.

The sprawling campus of the auditorium will be utilised to provide basic amenities for the delegates.

The project will be completed before the next festival.

Emulating Goa

Taking a cue from the annual International Film Festival of India in Goa, the next edition of IFFK will also provide reservation facility for delegates.

This year, the organisers issued around 9,000 delegate passes.

Still, many could not watch the films for want of space. The number of delegates, especially youth and students, are expected to increase in the coming years.

The academy is contemplating steps to meet the increasing demand.

Reservation facility

Organisers are under pressure from the delegates to introduce facility to reserve seats so that they can see films without disruption.

If the system works out, the delegates will be able to finalise a day’s programme on getting the screening schedule and choose the films they want to see.

Separate reservation counters can be opened to issue passes for each show at the festival.

Delegates can secure the passes for screenings in advance and see all the films of their choice.

The details will be worked out in consultation with the fraternal organisations.

It will be introduced after evolving a consensus, sources said.

N.J. Nair

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