Seven Bengali films by new directors will be competing with each other for the Golden Royal Bengal Trophy and a prize purse of Rs 7.5 lakh, in the Bengali Panorama section at the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) this year.
The prize money would be shared equally between the winning film’s director and producer.
Actress Swastika Mukherjee-starrer Bijoyar Pore and Matripaksha, directed by Abhijit Sridas and newcomer Rajesh Roy, respectively, are among the films featured in the Bengali Panorama section of KIFF 2023. “This year Kolkata International Film Festival has 7 Bengali films, all directed by first-time/new directors. Yes, there are a lot of constraints, a lot more hard work, and then there are results as amazing as this! Out of 7 films, TWO are mine, directed by first-time directors Abhijit SriDas and Rajesh Roy. #BijoyarPore and #Matripokhho selected at Kolkata International Film Festival," the actress wrote on Instagram.
Director duo Rajdeep Paul and Sarmistha Maiti, fresh from their National Award win for Kalkokkho, will premiere their new film Mon Potongo at the Bengali Panorama section.
Other notable films in the competition include Rajdeep Ghosh-halmed Bonbibi, which features Parno Mittrah as a tiger widow in the Sundarbans, Amartya Sinha's Asampurno, Debapratim Dasgupta’s Abar Ashibo Firey and Anisul’s Awnath.
KIFF 2023, running from December 5 to December 12, promises to be a cinematic extravaganza with the presence of Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan at the inauguration ceremony. The festival this year focuses on Australian cinema.
