Kerala Film Festival: Cyclone Ockhi causes delays, festival might be postponed

The destructive trail of the cyclone Ockhi has caused havoc in the plans for the 22nd International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). The festival website has put up a notice informing that the delegate registration and application for new passes for the festival has been delayed. There are suggestions that the festival might also be delayed due to the damage caused by the cyclone. An announcement is expected today.

IFFK was scheduled to run from 8 -15 December this year. With only four days to go, the website still has not uploaded the schedule of the festival, indicating that a delay might be on the cards.

The notice on the home page of the website reads,' IMPORTANT MESSAGE IFFK 2017...Inauguration of Delegate Cell, Pass Distribution and Registration for Additional Delegate Pass postponed owing to the adverse effects of OKHI cyclone. New date will be announced later.' 

The cyclone, which began in the Indian Ocean on 29 November, has already wreaked havoc in the regions of Kerala and the Lakshadweep islands. The state of Kerala has seen the loss of 13 lives, while thousands are left stranded across rescue centres. More than a 100 fishermen were stranded at sea during the cyclone, and are being rescued by joint efforts of the Indian Navy, coast guard, and armed forces. 

The cyclone is currently moving towards the coast of Maharashtra and Gujarat in the next few days, and is expected to continue moving further away. 

The 22nd International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) will see close to a 150 films from 65 countries.