Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas said he would lead discussions with the Department of Culture, demanding that Kozhikode be made a regular venue for the Regional International Film Festival of Kerala (RIFFK). Inaugurating the valedictory ceremony of the four-day RIFFK here on Monday (August 11), the Minister pointed out the way the public in Kozhikode had embraced the festival like any other cultural event and appreciated the organisers for their efforts.

Mayor Beena Philip presided over the event, while the newly appointed chairman of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation K. Madhu, and the chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy Premkumar, were present.

The RIFFK, organised by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy from August 8 to 11, returned to Kozhikode after a gap of seven years and was well received by cinephiles in north Kerala. A total of 1,200 seats were arranged across the Kairali, Sree, and Coronation theatres in the city, while delegate registration had crossed 1,500 days before the festival began. Most screenings played to packed houses, with delegates arriving well in advance to secure seats. The Open Forum sessions held in the evenings also drew good participation, and the discussions were lively.

An exhibition of photographs chronicling the cinema journey of writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair, titled Kalam Mayachitrangal, was held at the venue as part of the festival. The film Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha was screened as a tribute to MT, its producer P.V. Gangadharan, and cinematographer Ramachandrababu.

The festival featured 58 films in categories such as World Cinema, Indian Cinema Now, Malayalam Cinema Now, Festival Favourites, Female Gaze, Lifetime Achievement, and Kaleidoscope. The film Ankur was screened to honour actor Shabana Azmi, who has completed 50 years in cinema.