Kolkata/IBNS: The customary grand inauguration of Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) for the 28th year will be held in presence of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, veteran actor Jaya Bachchan and superstar Shah Rukh Khan at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata on Thursday evening.

Like every year, the inauguration will be spearheaded by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at 4 pm.

Among other guests who will be at the event are veteran actor-MP Shtrughan Sinha, actor Rani Mukerji, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, singing icon Arijit Singh, former cricket captain and ex-BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly along with Tollywood celebrities.

The inaugural film in this edition of the festival will be the Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan starrer, filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee directed 1973 Hindi film Abhiman.

The festival will continue till Dec 22.

All you need to know about 28th KIFF

Number of films to be screened

In eight days starting from Dec 15, 183 films including 130 feature films and 52 short and documentary films from 42 countries will be screened.

The film will be screened across 10 cinema halls, Nandan 1, Nandan 2, Nandan 3, Rabindra Sadan, Sirir Mancha, Paschim Banga Bangla Akademi Sabhaghar, Radha Studio, Rabindra Okakura Bhavan, Nazrul Tirtha 1 and Nazrul Tirtha 2.

Special Tribute

Eminent personalities iconic filmmaker Tarun Majumdar, veteran actor Pradip Mukherjee, classical musician Shivkumar Sharma and American actor Angela Lansbury, who have passed away in 2022, will be given special tribute in 28th KIFF.

Centenary Tribute

French film director and screenwriter Alain Resnais, Italian filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini, Greek film actor and director Michael Cacoyannis, India's acting icon Dilip Kumar, Indian film director Asit Sen, India's filmmaking icon Hrishikesh Mukherjee, India's Bharati Devi, film director K Asif and Bengali Hindustani classical musician Ali Akbar Khan will be given centenary tribute.

'Game On' category

Seven films including late acting legend Soumitra Chatterjee's Koni, MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, 83 will be screened to celebrate youth and spirit in society and promote sports.

Closing Ceremony

The closing ceremony will be held at Rabindra Sadan at 6:30 pm on Dec 22.