'The Elysian Field' and 'If on a Winter's Night' Head International Lineup at Kerala Festival

A Diverse Lineup for the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala

The 30th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) is set to take place in Thiruvananthapuram from December 12–19, showcasing a rich and varied lineup of films from around the world. The festival's international competition section features 14 titles that span continents, including works from India’s Khasi Hills, Latin America, East Asia, and the Middle East.

Representing the Home State

Among the films from Kerala, Sanju Surendran’s "If on a Winter's Night" stands out as a bilingual feature blending Malayalam and Hindi. Unnikrishnan Avala’s "Life of a Phallus" is another notable entry, offering a unique perspective through its Malayalam drama. The Indian presence is further strengthened by Pradip Kurbah’s Khasi-language film "The Elysian Field" and "Shadowbox," co-directed by Tanushree Das and Saumyananda Sahi.

Latin American Contributions

Latin America plays a significant role this year with several compelling films. Ecuadorian filmmaker Ana Cristina Barragán presents "Hiedra," while Swiss-Argentine director Milagros Mumenthaler brings "The Currents." Chilean filmmaker Nayra Ilic adds "Cuerpo Celeste" to the lineup. Argentina contributes "Kissing Bug" by Luis Zorraquín and "Before the Body," directed by Carina Piazza and Lucía Bracelis.

Central and West Asian Films

Central and West Asian cinema is represented by Shahram Mokri’s Tajikistan–U.A.E. feature "Black Rabbit, White Rabbit" and Mohamed Rashad’s cross-regional drama "The Settlement," which spans Egypt, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Turkish-Iranian director Gözde Kural adds "Cinema Jazireh" to the competition.

East Asian Highlights

From East Asia, Taiwan’s Tom Shu-yu Lin presents "Yen and Ai-Lee," while Japan’s Sho Miyake offers "Two Seasons, Two Strangers."

Expanding the Scope of Indian Cinema

Beyond the international competition, IFFK continues to highlight the vibrancy of Malayalam and Indian cinema. The Malayalam Cinema Today strand showcases new works such as "All the Living," "Ambrosia," "Await," "Celebration of Death," "Desire," "Ebb," "Girl and the Fools Parade," and "OAK," reflecting the diversity and innovation of Kerala's filmmaking scene.

The Indian Cinema Now section broadens the scope with a diverse range of films, including Kannada, Hindi, Bengali, and multilingual Indian titles like "Don't Tell Mother," "Flames," "Full Plate," "Hearth and Home," "Mirage," Venice winner "Songs of Forgotten Trees," and "Theatre."

Kaleidoscope of Regional Films

The Kaleidoscope section features eight films from across India that have gained international recognition. This includes the Tamil feature "Bad Girl"; the Sundance-winning Marathi film "Cactus Pears" ("Sabar Bonda"); Hindi titles "Homebound" (India's Oscar contender), "Pyre," and "Secret of a Mountain Serpent"; the Assamese-language "Kok Kok Kokoook"; the Nepali- and Sikkimese-language film "Shape of Momo"; and the Kannada–Malayalam production "Tiger's Pond" ("Vaghachipani").

Country Focus: Vietnam

This year’s Country Focus shines a light on Vietnam, featuring a curated selection of five films: "Cu Li Never Cries," "Don't Cry, Butterfly," "Glorious Ashes," "Once Upon a Love Story," and "The Tree House." These films exemplify Vietnam's growing presence on the global festival circuit.

Honoring Contemporary Filmmakers

Indonesia’s Garin Nugroho is honored with a Contemporary Filmmaker in Focus tribute, showcasing his work through films such as "A Poet: Unconcealed Poetry," "Birdman Tale," "Letter to an Angel," "Samsara," and "Whispers in the Dabbas."

Retrospectives of Iconic Filmmakers

IFFK also pays tribute to two influential Indian filmmakers. A retrospective of Ritwik Ghatak includes screenings of "Meghe Dhaka Tara," "Komal Gandhar," "Subarnarekha," and "Titash Ekti Nadir Naam." The festival also honors Saeed Mirza with screenings of "Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan," "Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro," and "Naseem."