Bio
Mr Vidyashankar who is the Founder member and presently the Artistic Director of Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes), which has completed 12 editions, is passionate about the Art of the cinema and has been associated with Film Society movement since 1977. He is a Former President and Secretary of Suchitra Film Society, a reputed cinephile club of Bengaluru founded in 1971.
He underwent the Certificate course in Film Appreciation at National Film Archives, Pune, India in 1981. He has been Lecturing and writing on World Cinema, Indian and Kannada cinema in both English and Kannada languages for over three decades and his articles have appeared in almost all the major newspapers in Karnataka. He is a Member of FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) and of NETPAC (Network for promotion of Asian & Pacific Cinema).
He has served for 5 years as a member of the Advisory Panel of Central Board of Film Certification (Film Censors). He was Managing Editor of a literary journal in Kannada for eight years and the editor of a Film Society journal for 2 years. He has compiled a book on European Film theories in Kannada and edited a book on African Cinema. He has scripted and directed Television serials and has provided English narratives and subtitles for number of documentaries.
He has been attending International Film Festivals in India and abroad since 1980 and was a Chairperson of the NETPAC International Jury at Busan International Film Festival, South Korea in 2018, member of FIPRESCI Critics Jury at the 70th Cannes International Film Festival, France in 2017, QCinema International Film Festival, Philippines in 2016 and also for the 16th International Film Festival of Kerala in 2011. He has also attended the prestigious International film Festivals at Berlin & Venice, as a delegate. He was invited to participate in a colloquium on Russian Cinema St. Petersburg, Russia in 2019.
Academically he holds a Master’s degree in Mathematics, a degree in Law and a Post graduate Diploma in Human Resources Management. Professionally, he is a Legal and Management Consultant specializing in Information Technology/Entertainment Industry Laws.