KIFF concludes: Cuban film bags Best Film trophy, Best Director award goes to Sri Lanka

Addressing the audience, CM Banerjee said, “I came here today to personally thank you. But don’t think we will not come here next year. You must come to our Kolkata International Film Festival next year as well. But you will bring with you a goal, a dream. Along with ‘vision’, you should also have ‘mission’.”

Highlighting the state’s rich cultural heritage and natural resources, Banerjee said, “We have no shortage of talent in Bengal. Apart from talented artists, there is no dearth of natural resources in our state. We have the Himalayas from dense forests to the eye-catching rivers and reservoirs from villages. There is a stunning beach. You will find everything in our Bengal. You just have to come here. Get in touch with our filmmakers, see the work of actors and actresses in our state. Let me say one thing, the name of Hollywood is world famous. Bollywood is also famous all over the world because their business is staggering. But remember, Bengal is the cradle of Indian culture.”

The chief minister assured the delegates that the state’s film industry has the potential to produce world-class pictures, saying, “If you join hands with Tollypara, they will be able to give you the best pictures in the world. I say loudly, our Bengali film industry has that power.”

“But yes, for that you have to stand by them, encourage, inspire. Let’s do it together. If we join hands together, it will happen. you and I are like brothers and sisters. The whole world is like a house. Maybe a different country, someone looks different, someone has a different skin color…and this is our culture. Culture of Bengal – unity in diversity. We do not believe in the principle of division, we believe in the principle of unity. We want to see a peaceful world,” she added.

Chief Minister Banerjee further promised that the West Bengal government will organize the festival in a bigger and more colorful way next year. “I promise you, next year we will organize this Kolkata International Film Festival in a bigger and more colorful way,” she said.
— With PTI