Bhubaneswar Film Festival Set to Celebrate Odia Cinema

Bhubaneswar: Odia cinema enthusiasts and aspiring filmmakers have much to look forward to as the Bhubaneswar Film Festival (BFF) gears up to captivate audiences from 7-9 June 2024 at Jayadev Bhawan, Bhubaneswar.

Hosted by the Bhubaneswar Film Circle, this exclusive Odia film festival will showcase 15 award-winning and classic Odia films from 1960 onwards. Open to the public, the screenings at Jayadev Bhawan auditorium will begin at 9:30 AM each day, with five films scheduled daily.

The festival’s impressive lineup includes notable guests from both the Odia and Mumbai film fraternities. The inaugural ceremony, slated for 7:15 PM on 7 June 2024, will feature distinguished personalities such as directors Ketan Mehta and Prashanta Nanda, cinematographer and director AK Bir, actor and producer Deepa Sahi, and actor and director of the National School of Drama (NSD) Chitta Ranjan Tripathy.

The event promises insightful discussions that will deepen appreciation for the remarkable nine-decade journey of Odia cinema. BFF will also honor several individuals for their outstanding contributions to the Odia film industry.

In addition to film screenings, BFF is offering valuable opportunities for aspiring storytellers. Exclusive masterclasses led by renowned casting director and filmmaker Mukesh Chhabra and acclaimed director Amit Rai from Bollywood will engage budding actors, screenplay writers, and filmmakers. These masterclasses, aimed at providing insights into the creative industry, will be held on 8 and 9 June for participants who register online.

The festival will also unveil a bilingual scholarly publication titled ‘Odia Cinema@90,’ which features edited articles on various aspects of the Odia film industry, celebrating its journey since 1936.

The Bhubaneswar Film Festival aims to showcase and celebrate the language, culture, and identity of Odisha through cinema, offering diverse opportunities for industry stakeholders, especially young professionals, to interact with veteran filmmakers, actors, and technicians. This fosters a vibrant film community and provides a platform for networking and learning.