Mamata Banerjee Joins Salman and Anil in dazzling dance at KIFF 2023 Inauguration | WATCH LIVE

The Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata set the stage aglow as the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) 2023 commenced its 29th edition with a dazzling opening ceremony. Graced by eminent personalities, the event saw the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Sonakshi Sinha, Sourav Ganguly, and Mahesh Bhatt. Notably absent this year was Shah Rukh Khan, a regular at KIFF, with Sourav Ganguly assuming the role of West Bengal brand ambassador.

The ceremony began with a mesmerizing dance performance by Dona Ganguly, earning praise from Salman Khan. Warm welcomes extended by Dev and Soham to Salman and Anil Kapoor, respectively, set the tone for an evening filled with cultural delights, including dance requests fulfilled by Anil Kapoor. Mamata Banerjee shared the stage with Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, and Sonakshi Sinha, bringing an enchanting dance collaboration to the forefront of the Kolkata International Film Festival 2023

Running until December 12, KIFF 2023 promises a cinematic feast with 219 films from 39 countries showcased across 23 venues in Kolkata. The diverse lineup features 72 feature films and 50 short films and documentaries. In the International Competition category, thirteen films will compete for the prestigious Golden Royal Bengal Trophies in the Best Film and Best Director categories, offering substantial prize money.

Notable events during the festival include the Satyajit Ray Memorial Lecture on December 9 by Laurence Kardish, a masterclass session on acting and direction led by Manoj Bajpayee and Sudhir Mishra, and the screening of Anurag Kashyap’s "Kennedy," starring Sunny Leone and Rahul Bhat.