International Film Festival Of India And Film Bazaar Reveal Details About Their 2023 Editions
The popularity of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is leading to its expansion for 2023. Meanwhile, the sister event Film Bazaar, South Asia’s largest content market, will focus on new technology. The Indian government-backed events run in parallel in November each year in close geographic proximity.
Prithul Kumar, Joint Secretary, Films, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and MD, National Film Development Corporation, said in a statement, “The film programming is going to be much more elaborate this time,” adding, “Last year we started integrating a lot of gala screenings and red carpets as a part of IFFI, which we are already charting out this year with the major production houses that the films which are releasing around that time will premiere there.”
Masterclasses, a vital part of the IFFI, attracted the appearances of Oscar winners Mark Osborne and A.R. Rahman, Shekhar Kapur, and “RRR” writer Vijayendra Prasad in 2022. Similarly, the industry-facing Film Bazaar’s ‘Knowledge Series’ sessions attract media industry leaders. In keeping up with the parallel setting, Kumar claimed, “We are trying to harmonize the masterclasses with the Knowledge Series sessions.”
As with most film-related festivals occurring this Fall, many believe the ongoing Hollywood strikes could have an impact with the possibility of some masterclass invitees unable to attend. To help ease these concerns, Kumar publicly claimed that the committee has a backup plan, and “we are working a lot with the European film commissions and the other continents as well.”
Documentaries and technology will be the focus areas at the 2023 Film Bazaar. Documentaries will now also be an integral part of the event’s co-production market and screenwriter’s lab. The Film Bazaar will also have a VFX pavilion showcasing international and Indian companies. The VFX pavilion will be part of a series of Cannes-style waterfront pavilions that the Bazaar introduced last year.
Both events have been in touch with film commissions from 50 countries to put up pavilions. Kumar revealed, “Governments are also pitching in to support – the filmmakers should be aware of such possibilities such as the areas which are available to collaborate.”
The IFFI will take place November 20-28 and the Film Bazaar from November 20-24.