Kolkata: The 32nd Kolkata International Film Festival will be held from Dec 16 to 23, 2026. Prosenjit Chatterjee, executive chairman of a special high-level advisory committee to oversee year-long celebrations marking the birth centenary of Uttam Kumar, announced it on Thursday, adding that the state was planning to set up an Uttam Kumar Film Centre, which would showcase works of Uttam Kumar, Satyajit Ray, Saumitra Chatterjee, among others, and 100 years’ history of Bengali cinema.
Chatterjee attended a preparatory meeting in connection with the celebration of the actor’s birth anniversary at Nandan-IV, chaired by chief minister Suvendu Adhikari.
Secretary of state information and cultural affairs Saumitra Mohan said the govt has sought three acres from Hidco in New Town to set up the film centre.
“We plan to set up an Uttam Kumar Film Centre, like Nandan, in New Town. Uttam Mancha, which is under KMC, is dilapidated, and will be renovated,” Mohan said.
Govt said the birth centenary celebrations will commemorate the actor’s contribution to Bengali cinema and his enduring place in Bengali culture and imagination. As part of the celebrations, a special cultural programme will be organised on Sept 3, the actor’s birth anniversary, along with the felicitation of prominent personalities associated with the Bengali film industry.
An exhibition focusing on the actor’s life and career will also be organised. The department of posts will issue a special stamp and a commemorative book marking his birth centenary.
The state has also planned a heritage walk covering locations associated with the actor, Mohan said. At Nandan, an exhibition will be held featuring rare photographs, film posters and other materials related to Uttam Kumar. A discussion involving film personalities, researchers, artists and critics at the Nandan complex has also been proposed.