Movie buffs in Chennai are in for a treat. The city is getting ready to host the Ninth Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF), between December 14 and 22.

South Indian Film Artistes Association president R Sarath Kumar, the festival's advisory board member Suhasini Mani Ratnam and Lissy Priyadarshan unveiled the trophy for Best Film to be given during the event.

Award-winning director and producer Shekhar Kapur will be the chief guest of the film festival, where 154 movies from 44 countries will be screened. Tamil movies like 'Aadukalam' and 'Thoonganagaram' will also be presented to the audience.

Organized by the Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation (ICAF), tickets for the entire festival are priced at Rs 500 for general public and Rs 300 for students and members of the film fraternity and institute.

There will be a special retrospective on films by Hou Hsao Hsien, Taiwanese award winning director and Finland’s Aki Kaurismaki.