Film festivals are the merging points of the National and International Cinema. It’s an arena where noteworthy films from across the globe are screened.  Film festivals in India had its origin in the year 1952 at Delhi. In the subsequent years, film festivals were conducted in other cities, especially during 1990s. The film festivals were regionalized and localized from the year 2000 onwards. 

 

The International Film Festival of Thrissur (IFFT) is a joint venture of Thrissur Janasamskara Chalachitra Kendram, Corporation of Thrissur, Thrissur Jilla Panchayath, Banerji Memorial Club and K.W. Joseph Memorial & St. Thomas College, Thrissur, with the patronage and active involvement of film connoisseurs of the city of Thrissur and neighbouring suburbs, Federation of Film Societies of India (FFSI), other government bodies and the business community.  The first edition of International Film Festival of Thrissur (IFFT) was launched in the year in 2004 with the support of Thrissur Corporation. IFFT has the unique distinction of being the second longest running film festival in Kerala, held under the aegis of Chalachitra Kendram, a film society.  IFFT has successfully conducted 18 editions so far, with the prime focus on bringing the best in contemporary and classic cinema, both at the national and international levels, to its audiences and the development of a vibrant film culture.