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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Congress voices concern over safety of minorities in Bangladesh
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the "atmosphere of insecurity" being faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh and the arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das.
In a statement, Chairman of the party's Media and Publicity Department Pawan Khera said, "The Indian National Congress expects the government of India to prevail upon the Bangladesh government to take necessary steps and ensure security of life and property of minorities in the country".
"The Indian National Congress expresses its deep concern at the atmosphere of insecurity being faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh. The arrest of the ISCKON monk is the latest example," he said.
A lawyer was killed on Tuesday during clashes between security personnel and followers of Das, who was denied bail and sent to jail by a court in the port city of Chattogram in Bangladesh in a sedition case.
Das, the spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka a day earlier.
India on Tuesday noted with "deep concern" the arrest and denial of bail to the Hindu leader, and urged authorities in the neighbouring country to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all other minority groups.
Bangladesh reacted sharply to the Ministry of External Affairs statement, saying it was unfounded and stood contrary to the spirit of friendship between the two countries.
In its statement, Dhaka said it does not interfere with the country's judiciary, which is fully independent
