Thiruvananthapuram: The online registration for the 23rd International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) began on Friday, but it was not exactly a flying start as only 800 passes were sold in the first one-a-half hour, compared with that of over 7000 delegates completing registration in just two hours last year.
One’s immediate inference is that the steep increase in registration fee must have deterred many from applying. But the comparison itself is not fair, says Mahesh Panju, secretary, Kerala Chalachitra Academy. “Last year, different categories were given different timings. The delegates in ‘general’ category could register only after passes in other categories were already delivered. Since each category was not allowed more than three days, the delegates were not willing to wait. This time there is time till November 25,” he says.
The pace of issuing passes was as sluggish in the offline registration, which had started on November 1. The offices of Chalachitra Academy at Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur were supposed to issue 500 passes each. It is learnt that close to 1000 of the offline passes remain. Thiruvananthapuram’s was the only office which managed to sell all 500 passes. From Saturday onwards, the remaining passes will be issued from the Academy’s office at Sasthamangalam.
In all there are 10,000 passes, of which 1000 passes are reserved for students. They will have to produce their college ID cards and pay Rs 1000. Mahesh Panju said that all other passes are for Rs 2000. The Rs 2000 passes will be in several categories including media, film & tv personality, film society, official and general passes.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan became the first person to be issued a pass this year when he handed over Rs 2000 to minister for culture A.K. Balan, in the simple inaugural function held at Chief Minister’s chamber on Friday. Mr Balan got his pass after he handed over Rs 2000 to Academy chairperson.
