22nd edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) will be held during 8-15 December 2017 in Thiruvananthapuram. Well known Bengali actress Madhabi Mukherjee will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony.

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award is being conferred on iconic Russian director Alexander Sokurov. A retrospective of his six films will be held at the festival. Besides, Retrospectives of films by Lino Brocka, master filmmaker from Philippines and K P Kumaran from India will be screened.

Contemporary Masters in Focus will feature movies of Mahamat Saleh Haroun (Chad) and Michel Franco (Mexico). Other packages include Identity and Space, Contemporary Asian Cinema, Japanese Animation, Restored Classics, and Jury Films.

The International Competition section has two Malayalam films by debutant directors. Randu Per (Two persons) by Prem Shankar and Aedan directed by Sanju Surendran. Malayalam Cinema Today section has Take Off, Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, Karutha Joothan, Angamaly Diaries, Maravi, Athishaynagalude Venal and Naayinte Hridayam.

Two Indian films feature in the International Competition. Newton and Village Rockstars. Indian Cinema Today section will have seven films.

Homage section will be screening films to pay tribute to directors Kundan Shah, K R Mohanan and I V Sasi and actor Om Puri.

Delegate Fee is increased to Rs 650. For student delegates the charge will be Rs 350. The Festival will have 14 theatres as venues. Due to safety concerns, entry will be allowed according to the number of seats in each theatre. Hence, no delegate will be allowed to watch films either standing or sitting on the floor.
Altogether there are only 8000 seats in 14 theatres. Hence, only 10,000 delegate passes will be issued this year.

• General category – 7,000
• Students – 1,000,
• Film & Television Professionals – 1,000,
• Media – 5,00,
• Film society members – 500.

• Students: 10-12 November
• General public: 13-15 November
• Film & TV Professionals: 16-18 November
• Film society activists: 19-21 November
• Media: 22-24 November

Those who register under each category should pay the delegate fee within the prescribed closing day of that category. One has to click on the link Apply for the Event on the site and pay the fees to complete the process of delegate registration.

Various art programmes will be held at 6 pm at Tagore Theatre as part of the Film Festival from 9 to 14 December. Khawali by Khutubi Brothers from Delhi, Baul music from West Bengal, Music programmes by groups from Bengaluru, Chennai and Kochi, programmes by Manaveeyam collective and transgenders and musical play by Abhinaya Theatre group will be presented.

Sri Pinarayi Vijayan, Hon. Chief Minister will distribute awards at the closing ceremony at Nisagandhi presided over by Sri A K Balan, Hon. Minister for Culture.