“This is my me-time, the annual vacation I look forward to.” Bengaluru-based software engineer Neethu Surendran is not talking about visiting a tourist destination. She is referring to her annual trip to Thiruvananthapuram in December every year as a delegate of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). The 29th edition of the week-long, prestigious festival kicks off on December 13, with 13,000 delegates registering for the event. Neethu is among those cinephiles living outside Kerala who make it a point to be at the festival of films.

“For me, cinema is not just a means of entertainment, it is a serious art form, irrespective of the language. My friends, some of whom are now working in cinema, television and media, introduced me to the IFFK in 2015. Once I got a taste of it, I could not resist coming here every year,” says Neethu, a native of Kollam. She is part of a group of movie buffs, some 25 of them, from within and outside Kerala, who turn up at the festival almost every year.

Neethu Surendran | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Among them is US-based design engineer Deepak Keloth, working with Intel. “I got exposed to world cinema while studying in Bengaluru. Once I started working there, I learned about the IFFK through my friend, Jinesh [Jinesh P Joseph]. From 2008 till I moved to the US in 2016, I attended the festival. I have not been a regular since I moved abroad. This year, however, I had planned well in advance,” says Deepak, a native of Kannur.

Meanwhile, Jinesh, currently working as a microchip designer in Germany, has to give the festival a miss this time. “I have been attending the festival since 2007, thanks to my friend, Nishanth, and once I shifted to Germany I have come four times. For me, it has always been like getting to know a new world through movies. It has also been about celebrating the camaraderie,” says Jinesh, a native of Kozhikode, who was present at the IFFK last year with a bandaged foot. “I had twisted my ankle during a football match with friends. The doctor had advised six weeks of rest. But I didn’t want to miss out on being there at any cost!” he says over phone from Germany.

Deepak Keloth | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The annual jamboree of films, featuring acclaimed works from across the globe, is nothing short of a festival, says Deepak. “Entire Thiruvananthapuram knows that a film festival is happening. I don’t think this happens at any other place and that’s why I love coming here,” adds Deepak.

In the case of A Srepaty Parvatraj, an up-and-coming actor from Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, serendipity brought him to the festival in 2022. “I had registered for it thinking it to be the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK). But it turned out to be the right thing I did and I’ve decided to come as long as I can,” says Srepaty.

A Srepaty Parvatraj | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

He admits that it took him time to understand and enjoy the films in general. “There have been occasions when I dozed off during a screening. But thanks to my friend I understood the storytelling and the craft,” says Srepaty, adding that his favourites have been The Whale, Paloma,Prison 77, Pada, Me Captain, and Attam among others. “If I am unable to reserve seat for a show, I go to screenings at Nishagandhi where reservations are not needed,” he adds.

Best of the lot

Among the several true blue ‘IFFK-ians’ is Munaf Hasan, a writer and cinema buff from Mumbai. “Kerala takes it to another level when it comes to film festivals. I have been a regular at IFFI (International Film Festival of India) and MAMI Mumbai Film Festival and have also been to Kolkata International Film Festival a couple of times. But, I believe, the IFFK is the king,” says Munaf, a regular for over eight years now.

Munaf Hasan | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

He adds, “Even if you miss some of the gems at any of the other festivals you can find them in the IFFK package. Also, there are some surprises every year. Even when the schedule is not announced, you can blindly take the delegate pass and book a hotel because you know you are going to one of the best film festivals in the world. I’m totally biased towards the IFFK. For me, it is like the Cannes festival,” says Munaf, a regular since 2016.

Vijayakumar RA, a graphic designer from Bengaluru, is among the veterans of the festival having been a regular since his student days at the College of Fine Arts in the capital city since 2003. “I somehow manage to take leave during this period. The competition section is a must-watch, followed by world cinema section. Coming here is also like a college reunion for me because most of our seniors and juniors from college will definitely be there,” says Vijayakumar.

Vijayakumar RV at last year's edition of the IFFK | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Ashok Kumar, a cineaste from Coimbatore, says the ambience at the festival has always been overwhelming. “I have been coming here since 2006. The festive mood, friendly people, affordable food and accommodation, and, above all, the bouquet of films — there is a lot to love about the IFFK. I also explore the city once I finish my daily quota of screenings, the places and food, especially biryani from Azad,” says Ashok, an ad filmmaker, who also runs a few YouTube channels.

Ashok Kumar (second from right) with his friends at one of the screenings of the IFFK | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

He adds that usually it is a group of them who turn up for the festival. “I used to run a film society, Cinema Club of Coimbatore, for some years. Many members of the Club used to frequent the IFFK and a few of us continue to do so,” he mentions.

He also cherishes the friends he has made at the festival. “I found the cameraman, for my YouTube channels, S Venkatesh at IFFK. We struck up a conversation while waiting in the queue for one of the screenings!” he says.

Viswanath Sundaram | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

His association with the fete has rubbed off on some of his other friends. Like his friend, Viswanath Sundaram, who works in concept design and visual development in the film industry. Hyderabad-based Viswanath says that Ashok and other friends have been imploring him to come to the IFFK for almost six years now. “This is my first tryst with any film festival. It is going to be a different experience for someone like me who has been working solely in commercial films,” he says referring to the films he has worked in such as Baahubali 1 and 2, RRR, Ponniyin Selvan, Salaar, Pushpa and Saaho. “I was in Thiruvananthapuram last month for pre-production work of Polimera 3. The city is beautiful...the temple, the beach and all.”

The aim is to watch as many films as they can, say the delegates. One can reserve for only three films a day, so to watch the rest one has to stand in long winding queues for hours on end. That is not an issue for most of them. While Ashok and Srepaty prefer to keep it to three films a day, there are delegates who watch more than that. For example, Neethu’s quota is six.

A group of movie buffs at the IFFK | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Neethu adds, “I prefer to watch alone and have stood in queues for hours. Iranian movies top the list, followed by Spanish and those movies that have been in the news. The size of the theatre is also a factor.”

Discussions and debates are part of the whole experience. “Once we watch the opening film at Nishagandhi the gang sits down to decide on the films to watch the next day. We don’t watch in groups, each to his or her own. But at the end of the day, we come together and discuss the works we have seen. My record has been 24 films in four or five days... back-to-back movies with food or coffee/tea breaks in between. After the festival we work out the total expenses and calculate each person’s share. We used to do it on Excel sheets earlier!” says Deepak.

Meanwhile, Srepaty has certain suggestions for the organisers. “It would be great if the transportation arrangement between the theatres is streamlined. Sometimes we miss out on watching the entire movie. There is always chaos regarding reservation and it has to be addressed.”

29th IFFK, on from December 13 to 20, features 177 films from 68 countries that will be screened across 10 screens. Details on the website iffk.in