In Reel Time: Here's Five Films You Cannot Miss At The Bengaluru International Film Festival This Year

The schedules of the film screenings are yet to be released. Please keep a close eye on the BIFFES website here to know more. 

When: Thursday, February 22 – Thursday, March 1

Find the event on Facebook here.

The Bengaluru International Film Festival {BIFFES} is back for its 10th edition, and this time they’re screening over 200 movies from 50 countries, for our viewing pleasure. The Country in Focus for this year’s edition is Germany, so try and catch German flicks like Four Hands and The Final Journey which will be screened at the festival. Now, if by some miracle you’re able to catch all their screenings we envy you, but for those who aren’t as lucky, we’ve narrowed it down to five films that you have to catch at BIFFES this year.

We can’t wait to see this satirical drama that picked up the Palme d’Or and an Academy Award nomination this year. The plot follows the publicity surrounding a controversial art installation at a Stockholm museum and the life of its chief art curator. Directed by Ruben Östlund, the Swedish film stars big names like Elizabeth Moss and Dominic West, and the trailer is enough to convince you that this is a must-watch.

Mysterious, eerie and compelling {and that’s what we got from just its trailer}, Loveless is a story of a couple’s separation, only for them to be brought together not long after to search for their son who has gone missing. The Russian film is also a nominee at the Academy Awards this year for the Best Foreign Language Film title. Shot in Moscow, the Andrey Zvyagintsev directorial is a tragedy that you can’t miss.

Set on the Northern Territory frontier in the 1920s, this Australian film is based on true events. Tackling themes like racism, colonisation and justice, it tells the story of how an Aboriginal farmhand shoots a white man in self-defense and the consequences that follow. Winner of the Special Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival, catch a screening of it at our own film festival this year.

If you still haven’t caught our official entry to the Oscars this year, you’ve got one more chance to. That’s right, BIFFES is screening this comedy-drama that looks at the hole in our country’s electoral processes. Colourful characters, stellar performances and a refreshing script are some of the reasons why this flick is worth your time. Such a shame it missed out on a nomination though.

This Chilean drama, produced by the folks behind Spotlight and Jackie, tells the tale of a transgender woman and how she copes with the loss of her much older lover. Lauded by critics, who especially praised the performance of Daniela Vega, the film’s star, A Fantastic Woman will be screened at BIFFES this year, so make sure you’ve cleared your schedules.