Mamata Banerjee to inaugurate Kolkata International Film Festival Virtually on Today
The 26th Kolkata Film Festival will be inaugurated virtually by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee from Nabanna state secretariat on Friday.
Even though no guests would be physically present because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will be joining the inauguration virtually.
“Together we will overcome this pandemic. But the show must go on. We are going ahead with #KIFF 2021 virtually, on a smaller scale. Glad that my brother Shah Rukh Khan will join us virtually at the inaugural event on Jan 8, 4 pm,” Mamata Banerjee had tweeted earlier this week.
Together we will overcome this pandemic. But the show must go on. We are going ahead with #KIFF 2021 virtually, on a smaller scale. Glad that my brother @iamsrk will join us virtually at the inaugural event on Jan 8, 4pm. Watch Kolkata International Film Festival live
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 6, 2021
The seven-day festival will observe tribute to two icons of Bengal cinema – Satyajit Ray on his birth centenary and Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee who died of post – Covid complications in November last year. According to KIFF authorities, a total of 131 films – in feature, short and documentary formats will be screened at the select state-run theatres of the city, including Nandan and Rabindra Sadan.
‘Apur Sansar’, Ray’s classic and also Chatterjee’s debut film, will be screened at the virtual inauguration.
