29th Kolkata International Film Festival Opens

Kolkata: 29th Kolkata International Film Festival KIFF opened today at Netaji Indoor Stadium. The inaugural ceremony started with the state song of West Bengal 'Banglar Mati Banglar Jal'. The chief guests of today's inaugural ceremony were Bollywood stars Salman Khan and Anil Kapoor. Besides, Shatrughan Sinha, Mahesh Bhatt, Sonakshi Sinha were also present. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has presided over the ceremony.

 

Eminent film personalities from Bengal, Madhabi Mukhopadhyay, Sabitri Chatterjee, Paran Bandopadhyay, Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Prasenjit Chatterjee among others were also present in the



opening ceremony. In her address to the audience, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged the Bollywood Film Industry to invest in West Bengal and shoot at various locations in the state. 

The inauguration ceremony ended with the national anthem. After that, the legendary film icon Uttam Kumar starer Deya Neya (1963) was screened as opening film. This film was directed by Sunil Bandopadhyay.

 

This year the film festival will continue till 12th December. Total 219 films will be shown at 23 cinema halls across the city.