The change in venue for the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) has left people divided, with regular participants of the event expressing concerns about the new venue. Shifting from its usual venue of Orion Mall, the 17th edition of BIFFes will be held at Lulu Mall from January 29 to February 06.
From an administrative point of view, the current venue might pose several challenges, said playwright and screenwriter Abhishek Iyengar. “For more than a decade, staff members at Orion Mall were trained to manually upload films and do quality checks. Even the security personnel at the Orion were trained to handle celebrities,” said Mr. Iyengar, co-founder of theatre company, WeMoveTheatre.
“Even the biggest of festivals such as Cannes or Busan don’t change venues due to structural convenience. All the protocols are in place, and it’s tricky to restart them all over again in a new venue,” said Mr. Iyengar, who was part of the organising committee in previous editions.
Murali P.B., artistic director, 17th BIFFes, is confident of pulling off a smooth event despite the change in venue. “As far as commuting is concerned, there is bus connectivity to the Sujatha Theatre stop, the closest station to Lulu Mall. I understand that for those travelling through the Green Line Metro, they have to change over at majestic but then it’s a matter of one stop from there to reach Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Station, around 500 metres away from the venue,” Mr. Murali said.
Promising film screenings at all 11 screens of the Lulu Mall, Mr. Murali said a dedicated space has been booked on the first floor of the mall to conduct masterclasses. “We have a separate space for holding press conferences right opposite the Lulu Mall,” he said.
The artistic director also assures discount rates for parking and food at the mall. “The Lulu Mall is close to bustling areas such as Bashyam Circle and Magadi Road, where they get plenty of options for food.”
K. Phaniraj, film critic and activist, said the common delegates, who are the biggest stakeholders of the event, had to be kept in mind by the government before taking such a prominent decision.
“They must think of providing free bus service every 15 to 20 minutes to relevant drop points. At the International Film Festival of India in Goa, buses go as far as 30 to 40 km. The BIFFes organisers can arrange food stalls at affordable rates at the venue, as is the case at the IFFK, Thiruvananthapuram. Change of venue isn’t an issue if the delegates’ logistical demands are considered, and apt solutions are provided for their problems.”
New attraction
At the 17th BIFFes this year, several restored versions of Dr. Rajkumar movies are set to be screened. The event is also one day longer than in previous years. After the inauguration, the festival will go on for eight days, instead of seven.
Published – December 25, 2025 09:49 pm IST
