Overview
- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the 31st KIFF and urged foreign filmmakers and investors to collaborate with Bengal on joint ventures.
- Organisers say the festival will screen 215 films from 39 countries, including a 19‑film Poland focus and a Polish poster exhibition, though one report cited a disputed total of 315.
- The festival opened on November 6 at the Dhono Dhanya Auditorium with a screening of the Bengali classic 'Saptapadi' and runs through November 13 across city venues.
- A special centenary tribute to Ritwik Ghatak features restored versions of six films, scheduled across theatres from November 7 to 13.
- Sourav Ganguly lit the ceremonial lamp at the star‑studded opening attended by Ramesh Sippy and Shatrughan Sinha, with Banerjee conferring Banga Bibhushan honours on Arati Mukherjee and Sinha.