A graffiti by participants of Bring Your Own Film Festival last year in Puri and (above) stills of films screened at the venue. (file pictures)

Puri, Feb. 13: The Puri beach is gearing up to welcome hundreds of visitors and an assortment of films.

Film-makers, film lovers, artists and art enthusiasts will gather at the ninth edition of the Bring Your Own Film Festival, better known as BYOFF, that begins at the beach town next week.

The festival is expected to attract young talents from all over the country.

Neither jury nor selection procedures will bar young film-makers from showcasing their creativity at the festival. Anyone with a film or with a knack for art was allowed to participate in the festival, said the organisers.

“BYOFF is organised by a bunch of film lovers and promoters of art. We welcome anyone interested in watching films or an inclination towards visual arts to the festival,” said Susant Mishra, well-known film director and a founder member of the festival.

Around 200 films, including short films, documentaries and even feature films are screened at the five-day festival that is held from February 21 to 25 every year. This year, too, more than 30 films are expected to be shown every day at the event.

“We have already been contacted by amateur film-makers as well as professional short-film producers, who will bring a number of films to BYOFF. These will be screened simultaneously during the evening at three different set-ups at Puri beach on the Chakrateertha Road,” said Mishra.

“The entry is free for viewers. We only charge a fee from the participants mainly to provide dinner,” he added.

Apart from screening of films, workshops will be conducted on production and distribution by film-making corporations from Mumbai, Calcutta and other regions.

The event will also have a photo exhibition displaying stills from the films to be screened, colourful graffiti for viewers, sculpture camp, installations and much more. Art director Sukant Panigrahy will also conduct a workshop at the event.

“This festival is practically a hub for artists. It usually has a turnout of 150 film-makers and as many artists and art lovers,” said Mishra.

“From starting it on a very small scale, we have reached many film lovers as the word has spread over the years. BYOFF is not about glamour but about encouraging alternate cinema,” said television actor and another founder member of the festival.

The participants for the festival will be allowed to register at the festival till the last day of the festival.

No one with a film to screen will leave disappointed from the festival, say the organisers.