Special section on Kurosawa, Hitchcock at IFFK

The 17th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) will see films of international icons Akira Kurosawa and Alfred Hitchcock in the retrospective category.

The festival begins Dec 7 and concludes Dec 14.

In a career spanning 57 years, Kurosawa, known as the 'Wind Man', left his trademark in every section of film production - from writing to directing and producing to editing.

Nine of his films will be featured in the retrospective category.

Kurosawa's career as an independent director was marked off with the film "Sanshiro Sugata" (Judo Saga) in 1943.

The critically acclaimed 1948 film "Drunken Angel" lined his reputation as the most promising and talented young filmmaker. This "tall man" of Japanese films, directed 32 movies independently, another 24 as an assistant director, he wrote for 71 titles, edited 17 and produced 11.

Until his demise in 1998 at the age of 88, Kurosawa was awarded with 63 international awards. He was felicitated with the Honorary Award in 1990 in Oscars for his cinematic accomplishments that have inspired, enriched and entertained worldwide audiences and influenced filmmakers throughout the world.

Included are "Drunken Angel" (1948), "The Hidden Fortress" (1958), "I Live in Fear" (1955), "The Idiot" (1951), "Ikiru" (1952), "Stray Dog" (1949), "Madadayo" (1993), "Sanjuro"(1962) and "Sanshiro Sugata" (1943), all of which are penned by himself.

The other legend whose films would be screened is Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, who re-defined the thriller genre of movies worldwide.

In his career of 75 years, from 1921 to 1976, Hitchcock gained the place of cinema's most significant artists and the director who influenced lot of his successors to come to the industry.

Hitchcock, who was awarded the Honorary Knight Commander of the British Empire, directed 67 films, produced 28, wrote for 22, art directed nine and edited three films.

In his career, he received a total of 31 awards and lots of honorary positions. Even though he is recognized for his talkies, there are master class silent films also in his name. In the festival, Hitchcock's five silent films are to be screened.

Hitchcock silent films in the festival are "The Ring" (1927), "Champagne" (1928), "The Lodger" (1927), "The Pleasure Garden" (1925) and "Downhill" (1927).

"The Ring" will be the inaugural film of the 17th IFFK.