LIFF to open with Kamal Swaroop’s ‘Rangbhoomi’

“LIFF, in its third edition, is proud to announce a cross-section of films which will be screened at the picturesque venue. These include international feature films, documentaries from India, short films (national–international) and Indian feature films,” Melwyn Williams Chirayath, Founder & Festival Director, LIFF, said in a statement here today.

Tributes will be paid to Hindi film industry veterans Faroque Shaikh (by Deepti Naval) and Nanda who passed away this year.

“The festival will open with Kamal Swaroop’s ‘Rangbhoomi’ based on Dadasaheb Phalke’s book on theatre by the same name. Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Ugly’ will be showcased at the Green Carpet Premiere of LIFF 2014, at White Lotus School, an open air venue with a capacity of 20,000 people,” Melwyn said.

This year’s focus will be on Korean cinema, with contemporary Korean films taking the centre stage.

The theme for LIFF 2014 is ‘Spirituality & Camaraderie’ and the festival will conclude with the special preaching (kaalchakra) by Tibetan spiritual guru Dalai Lama.

Kaalchakra is held once in four years. “The Ladakh International Film Festival has come of age. It is now an important film festival of South Asia. It also has the distinction of being the only international film festival on the roof of the world ringed by the tallest mountains of the Himalayas. Come to Ladakh International Film Festival in Leh where you will see the best of the world cinema of 2014,” Shyam Benegal, Chairman LIFF, said.

Some of the films to be showcased during the festival include ‘The Return — Home Coming’, ‘Q’, ‘Kafiron Ki Namaaz’, ‘Tourist’, ‘Scattered Windows Connected Doors’, ‘Candle in the Wind’, ‘Little Hands’, ‘Iravu’, ‘English Vinglish’, ’72 Miles Ek Pravas’, ‘Superman of Malegaon’, ‘Stream of Love’.

The jury includes renowned film critic Klaus Eder, Gen Secy of International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and Maxine Williamson, Head, Asia Pacific Screen Awards.