Thiruvananthapuram: Renowned actress Shabana Azmi will be the chief guest at the 28th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), which kicks off on Friday at 6 pm at the Nishagandhi Auditorium here. In recognition of her remarkable career spanning five decades, Azmi will be felicitated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during the inaugural ceremony.

The festival's opening night will also see the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Hong Kong-based filmmaker Ann Hui. Chief Minister Vijayan will honour Hui with the prestigious award, which includes a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and a memento. The event will be presided over by Minister for Culture Saji Cherian.

Following the inaugural ceremony, the festival will screen I Am Still Here, the opening film. A traditional dance performance by Kerala Kalamandalam will also be part of the evening festivities.

The IFFK will run from December 13 to 20, with films being screened in 15 theatres across the city. A total of 177 films from 68 countries will be featured. The festival's International Competition section will showcase 14 films, while the Malayalam Cinema Today section will present 12 films, and 7 films will be featured in the Indian Cinema Now section.

On the closing day, December 20, the Chief Minister will present the Spirit of Cinema Award to director Payal Kapadia.

The IFFK continues to be a premier cultural event, attracting cinephiles, filmmakers, and critics from around the globe. The carefully curated selection of films, recognised for their storytelling, direction and cinematic excellence, promises to be a highlight of this year's edition.