The second edition of the student-run film festival PUFF is set to begin on Monday. The initiative was launched in 2024 and aimed to expose university students to the vast world of cinema and build a community to discuss cinema. The inaugural edition of the film festival was a huge success, and Malayalam director Jeo Baby was featured as a guest. The festival was conducted for three days, showcasing 27 films across three screens within the Department of Electronic Media and Mass Communication. The curated list of films featured different films from around the globe. The students of DEMMC formed different teams and divided the work between the two batches of students for the smooth functioning of the festival. Many faculty members from other departments and students attended the festival.
The second edition of PUFF in DEMMC also features the newly integrated UG students as part of the festival. With more students, the festival will be extended to four days and will screen 28 films across three screens named Medai. Thirai and Parvai. This edition also features two guests, filmmaker Fazil Razak and Adhithya Baby, who is also a student of Performing Arts at Pondicherry University. PUFF also aims to promote independent cinema and features many independent films in this year’s lineup. Guest films and interactive sessions are also included in this year’s schedule. The festival also features a Memoriam category, which features three veteran filmmakers who passed away in 2024. MT Vasudevan, David Lynch, and Shyam Benegal will be paid tribute at the festival, and their films will be screened under the Memoriam category.
An inaugural ceremony will be held at the department auditorium (Medai) at 1 pm. The function will be inaugurated by the Dean in charge of the School of Media and Communication, Dr Arulselvan. There will also be a special address by the HOD of DEMMC, Dr Radhika Khanna, and felicitation by Associate Professor Dr T Balasaravanan. Special guest Adhithya Baby will also be present on the dais.
The student coordinator for PUFF, Ramesh S, will convey the welcome address and the presidentialaddress by studentrepresentative Aardra P. Studentcoordinator Meenakshi Ajith Kumar will deliver the vote of thanks. PUFF 2025 will commence at DEMMCon Monday, with the first screening at 9.45 am.