A riot of colours and rhythms featuring the folk arts of Kerala would mark the beginning of the 12th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), in Thiruvananthapurm today (Dec 7).

The festival, organized by the state Folklore Academy, would be inaugurated by actor Kamal Haasan at the Nisagandhi open air auditorium. Chilean director Miguel Littin would be the chief guest at the function.

The festival would open with "Buddha collapsed out of shame", a film set in Bamian in Afghanistan and directed by Hanna Makmalbaf, younger daughter of renowned Iranian director Mohsen Makmalbaf.

"Buddha" is an exotic and frightening journey into the minds of children who live in the desolate land. A total of 238 films from 58 countries would be screened at the eight-day event, which also includes retrospectives of Spanish film-maker Pedro Almodovar and Czech director Jiri Menzel.

Menzel, who was to head the jury of the competition section which includes 14 films, was replaced by Iranian director Jafar Panahi.

Rigoberto Lopez (Cuba), Naki Sy Savene (Africa), Agnieska (Poland) and Bollywood actor Nasiruddin Shah are the other members of the jury.

The FIPRESCI (Federation of International Film Critics Associations) jury is headed by journalist Sheila Johnston while Anne Dem Geroe, founder executive of Brisbane festivals, heads the NETPAC (Network for Promotion of Asian Films) jury.

The 'Suvarna Chakoram' (Golden Pheasant) award for the best film carries a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh while the second best film award, a silver pheasant, carries a purse of Rs three lakhs.