Highlights from the press conference conducted by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah following the preparatory meeting for the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival:
- The 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival will take place from January 29 to February 06.
- Veteran actor, director, and producer Prakash Raj has been appointed as the Brand Ambassador for the festival.
- The grand inauguration of the festival will be held on the majestic steps of Vidhana Soudha.
- This year's festival theme is focused on women empowerment.
- Screenings will be held across 11 screens at Cinepolis, Lulu Mall, Rajajinagar.
- Submissions for Asian, Indian, and Kannada film sections are open with over 110 films received so far. The deadline for film submissions is December 31, 2025.
- Screenings will also take place at Rajajinagar's Lulu Mall, Dr. Rajkumar Bhavan, Kalavidara Sangha, Chamarajpet, and Suchitra Film Society in Banashankari.
- The festival will showcase over 200 films from 60+ countries with 400+ screenings, including Indian and Kannada films.
- Acclaimed films from renowned international festivals like Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and others will feature in this edition.
- Shortlisted films for this year's Oscars from various countries will also be showcased.
- Contributions from the Polish Cultural Centre, Goethe Institute-Max Mueller Bhavan, Alliance Française, and Royal Thai Consulate will bring the best films from their nations to the festival.
- A special retrospective on Polish director Andrzej Wajda will be organized in collaboration with the Polish Cultural Center.
- A series documenting the history of African cinema is being organized in collaboration with Alliance Française de Bangalore and the French Institute in India.
- An academic platform at the festival headquarters will allow more registered delegates to participate in the festival's academic programs.
- A diverse photo exhibition showcasing the milestones of the vibrant 91-year history of Kannada cinema will also be organized.
- A budget of ₹7 crores has been sanctioned for organizing the 17th edition of the festival in 2025-26.
- The concluding ceremony will include awards for the best films and a lifetime achievement award.
Present at the preparatory meeting were Film Academy President Sadhu Kokila, Department of Information Secretary B. B. Kaveri, Commissioner Hemant Nimbalkar, Additional Chief Secretary Anjum Parvez, Finance Department Principal Secretary Ritesh Kumar Singh, along with academy members, organizing committee members, and other film industry officials. #BIFFES2025 #CinemaLovers #FilmFestival #BangaloreFilmFestival