Steps sought to promote Malayalam films

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) highlighted the need for promoting Malayalam cinema in different parts of the state through film societies. Few quality filmmakers find hard to get a theatres for screening; hence such films get confined to festivals, speakers said at an Open Forum on the sidelines of IFFK here. The film societies can take steps in supporting and socializing such movies, film critic G P Ramachandran pointed out, addressing the session titled 50 years of film society movement in Kerala at Tagore theatre premises. Film society activist Cheriyan Joseph suggested that film societies should also conduct film festivals in different parts of Kerala. The speakers discussed the prospects of the film society movement in the state. The impact of film societies, though little, was deep, said renowned filmmaker K P Kumaran. Now, the federation of societies should leave aside its narrow mindset and promote making socio-political moves. George Mathew, office bearer attached to Federation of Film Societies of India said the states film societies contributed in four phases over the years. They initially created awareness about the importance of cinema. Then came their contribution to film criticism. After that they contributed to the making of filmmakers and then the IFFK, said George. The session was moderated by film critic V K Joseph.