Amitabh Bachchan to inaugurate the 2016 Kolkata International Film Festival

Even as the high of Mumbai's MAMI film festival subsides, another is on its way. The 22nd Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) is set to open on 11 November, and will be inaugurated by Amitabh Bachchan. The ceremony will be held at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in the Bengal capital.

Bachchan will be among the many delegates gracing the occassion. The others include Jaya Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Kajol, Sanjay Dutt, Sharmila Tagore, and Moushumi Chatterjee. The festival will witness the screening of 155 films from 65 countries. There are 13 venues allotted for the screenings in the city.

Interestingly, China and its films will be one of the main features of the festival. A delegation of eight members from the Chinese government and film industry are expected to be at the event. Reports quoted China's consul Li Suyun as saying, "Six government officials, one director and her assistant, one screenwriter, and one actor from China will come to KIFF. One film will go for the international competition (women directors)."

KIFF officials have emphasised that the objective of the festival is to screen world cinema, and that it has no political colour. 

The presence of Amitabh Bachchan will certainly add some colour to the event. The actor has been quite busy with work, having started shooting for Ram Gopal Varma's Sarkar 3 recently.