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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Christmas decorations vandalised by VHP activists at school in Nalbari; Tension in area
Nalbari: Tension prevailed in the Panigaon area of Nalbari district on December 24 after members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal allegedly entered the premises of St Mary’s School and vandalised materials prepared for Christmas celebrations.
According to local sources, activists of the VHP and Bajrang Dal entered the school campus ahead of Christmas and raised slogans inside the premises. It is alleged that Christmas-related decorations and materials kept within the school compound were damaged and set on fire.
Eyewitnesses said that members of the Bajrang Dal were the first to enter the campus, during which they allegedly raised slogans such as “Jai Shri Ram,” “Jai Hindu Rashtra,” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” and burnt items prepared for Christmas celebrations. The incident created panic among local residents and led to concerns over law and order in the area. No injuries have been reported so far.
The incident comes amid reports of similar acts in Nalbari town in recent days, where Christmas decorations displayed at several commercial establishments were allegedly set on fire.
Reacting to the incident, fact-checker Mohammed Zubair said on social media that VHP and Bajrang Dal activists entered St Mary’s School on Christmas Eve, raised slogans and destroyed Christmas decorations. His post drew attention to the incident and sparked wider discussion online.
Police have not yet issued an official statement on the incident. Further details are awaited.
On Christmas Eve, Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal goons entered St. Mary’s School in Panigaon, Nalbari, chanting slogans like “Jai Shri Ram” and “Jai Hindu Rashtra.” They destroyed and set fire to all Christmas decorations prepared at the school. pic.twitter.com/LQHV7FWUvz
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) December 24, 2025
