Bhubaneswar: In a bid to strengthen international film culture in Odisha, the state government will organise a four-day international film festival in June.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Skill Development and Technical Education Department, on Tuesday. The Odisha International Film Festival (OIFF) is likely to be held in the first or second week of June.

As per discussions, 13 feature films will be screened during the festival. In addition, dedicated sessions for short films, animation films and student films will be organised to encourage young and emerging filmmakers.

The Biju Patnaik Film and Television Institute of Odisha (BPFTIO) in Cuttack has been proposed as the main venue. The festival will be held across both Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, with the inaugural ceremony planned at a prominent location in Cuttack. Feature film screenings will take place at one or two major theatres in both cities.

Masterclasses, seminars, panel discussions, workshops and short film screenings will also be organised at supporting venues, including the Odisha State Maritime Museum Auditorium and Ravenshaw University Auditorium in Cuttack.

BPFTIO will serve as the nodal agency for the festival, coordinating with the Skill Development and Technical Education Department, Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, Tourism Department, the Odisha Film Development Corporation (OFDC), and other committees formed for the smooth execution of the event.