There is a change in the jury panel for this year IFFK. Jury chairman Jiri Menzel has been replaced by Iranian director Jafar Panahi while Cuban film director Rigoberto Lopez has been added to the panel. The other members of the jury include an African actor cum director Naki Sy Savene, Polish scriptwriter Agnieska Holland and veteran Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah.

The NATPAC jury will be headed by founder executive of Brisbane festival Anne Dem Geroe while the Fipresci jury will be headed by journalist Sheila Johnston. The competition section of these years IFFK has 14 films, including ‘Naalu Pennungal’ by Adoor Gopalakrishnan and ‘Parades’i by P T Kunjumuhammed.

The best film of IFFK would get the Golden Pheasant Award and carry a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and the second best film the Silver Pheasant and Rs 3 lakh. The best newcomer director would get the Silver Pheasant and an Rs 2 lakh. In addition, there will also be an audience prize of Rs 1 lakh for a film selected through audience poll.