Nitte International Film Festival begins in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: The Nitte Institute of Communication, Nitte (Deemed to be University), in Mangalore, commenced the fourth edition of the Nitte International Film Festival (NIFF) on Thursday, June 8, 2023, at Bharath Cinemas, Bharath Mall.
The festival was inaugurated by Premendra Mazumder, Vice President of the Federation of Film Societies of India and General Secretary of the International Federation of Film Critics - India, who served as the Chief Guest. Prof. Dr. M. Shantharam Shetty, Pro-Chancellor of Nitte (Deemed to be University), graced the event as the Guest of Honour. Other notable dignitaries present were Prof. Raviraj, Head of NICO and Festival Director of NIFF, and Anupama Ratheesh, Student Coordinator of NIFF.
During his address, Premendra Mazumder emphasized the unique nature of NIFF, where students venture beyond the campus to host the festival, providing better exposure. He also highlighted the opportunity it creates for the public to enjoy films and interact with filmmakers. Mazumder commended the thoughtful curation of the film festival based on the audience's interests. He assured the necessary support and guidance for NIFF from the Film Societies of India, International Federation of Film Critics, and Federation of Film Societies of India.
The Guest of Honour, Prof. Dr. M. Shantharam Shetty, expressed pride in Mangalore as an educational and banking hub, renowned for its diverse culture and tradition. He acknowledged the contributions made by local artists like Aishwarya Rai, Sunil Shetty, and Pooja Hegde in the field of cinema. Prof. Shetty emphasized the role of filmmakers in portraying the world as a small community and fostering love and compassion through their movies. He applauded the organizers for bringing communities together through the medium of films.
Running from June 8 to June 11, 2023, the four-day film festival aims to showcase the best of world cinema and provides a platform for filmmakers, critics, and cinema enthusiasts to attend film screenings and engage in discussions on current artistic developments in the industry. The festival began with the screening of the film "Hadinelentu" by Prithvi Konannur. Throughout the festival, a total of 100 films from various countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Singapore, France, and Senegal will be shown in different languages, including Tulu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Urdu, Marathi, Tamil, German, and French. The films are being screened across three cinema halls, namely Screen 3, 4, and 5. Around 40 filmmakers from across the country are expected to be present during NIFF. This year, Germany has been chosen as the 'Country of Focus' for the festival.
A special section of the film festival includes a photo exhibition by Ashwathanarayana, an Archivist and Chronicler of the Kannada film industry. The exhibition, arranged in the lobby, showcases snapshots that portray the journey of the sandalwood industry.
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4 held for sexually assaulting woman, girl on moving bus after social media alert in UP's Agra
Agra (UP) (PTI): Four people were arrested, after a prompt response by police following a social media alert, for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman and a girl inside a moving bus here, officials said on Tuesday.
According to an official police statement, at 12:27 am on April 27, information was received on the social media platform X about an incident of sexual assault on a bus travelling from Kanpur to Ahmedabad, which was approaching Namner crossing in Agra.
Acting under the direction of Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar, the Agra Police social media team immediately alerted the Rakabganj police station within minutes and coordinated with the victims to confirm the incident and obtain the exact location, it stated.
Police teams launched intensive checking at Namner crossing and intercepted the bus as it reached the spot. The four accused involved in the incident were apprehended on the spot, and legal action was initiated against them, the statement said.
The police said the swift response and coordination between the social media team and field units ensured timely action, bringing relief to the victims and other passengers, who expressed gratitude towards the police, it added.
