Film Institute in the state to be a reality soon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: “Film industry now runs short of technical talent than creative crew. Direction, therefore, is not such an arduous task these days as anyone can accomplish it,” says Chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy and noted film director  Priyadarshan. He was addressing the media here on the sidelines of the fourth International Documentary Film Festival beginning on Saturday.   Steps are afoot to make the proposed Film Institute a reality this year itself. The 2.5 acres of land on the KINFRA premises may be utilised for the purpose. Youngsters can, therefore, be given a better exposure to the technical intricacies of filmmaking. The institute will work as an integral part of the Chalachitra Academy, he said.  Speaking on his new role as the Chairman of the State Chalachitra Academy, Priyadarshan said that now he ‘’is in a learning process on the administrative aspects of the film industry.’’ Though he is busy with his own work in the film industry, it would not necessitate the service of a working chairman to look over the functioning of the festival, he added. He also lauded the efforts of the governments of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in encouraging the film industry in their states. He said that if similar approach is being taken by the Government of Kerala, here also the film industry can bring out remarkable results.   He also said that the recent raids conducted by the Income Tax officials in the residences and offices of two leading actors in Malayalam cinema would neither  affect the industry nor the public image of the actors adversely. Beena Paul Venugopal, festival director, and K S Sreekumar, secretary of the Chalachitra Academy, were also present.IDSFFK-2011Film Minister K B Ganeshkumar will inaugurate the fourth International Documentary and Short Film Festival at the Kairali theatre here on Saturday at 6.30 pm.The films will be screened in the Kairali and Sree theatres. The festival will showcase around 200 films from across 25 nations. Korean Film ‘Old Partner’, directed by Lee-Ching Reol, is the inaugural film.