Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) is one of the most awaited festivals in the city’s calendar. Its popularity is a barometer to Kolkata being called a cultural city.

And now, an exciting new thing has been planned by the organisers of KIFF. The government of West Bengal, the organisers of KIFF, has planned a new logo for the festival. And the design of the logo is going to be decided by a contest to be thrown open to the public. The winner would get to win a whopping Rs 1 lakh.

When Kolkata Film Festival (as KIFF was known then) started eighteen years back in 1995, it was hugely popular. The first few years were very successful, with the public in large numbers as well as many international luminaries attending. However, over the years, it lost its popular appeal, and the festival became lacklustre in character.

The current chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, after coming to power, began taking a personal interest in reviving this festival. It became one of her pet projects, and she has done a lot to overhaul the image of the festival. As a result, from 2011, the footfall has increased hugely.

A more judicious mix of films is now par for the course. Other measures adopted to increase its popularity include shifting the venue of inauguration from Nandan to Netaji Indoor Stadium, where a much larger number can attend. Popular stars from the film industries of Kolkata and Mumbai are regulars at the festival now.

The logo designing contest is a very good attempt at further increasing the popularity of the festival. The contest would help the festival connect with a broader mass of people. This year, 180 films by 140 directors from 60 countries have been selected. Amitabh Bachchan is scheduled to inaugurate the festival in 2013, to be held in November.