The 5th edition is featuring 15 films in competition including Marana Simhasanam (The Throne of Death) by Murali Nair, which won the Camera D¹Or, and Vanapastham, The Last Dance, which took the Certain Regard Prize at Cannes 99. The program is further garnished with shorts; documentaries; four retrospectives - Pier Paolo Pasolini, Yu Hyun-Monk, M.T.Vasudevan Nair and Oshimo; homage to Salam Karasseri and Kuthiravattom Pappu, as well as a selection of Indian Cinema.

The Korean film Mayonnaise directed by Mr. Yoon-In Ho won Suvarna Chakoram, the award for the best feature film at the IFFK 2000. Special Jury prizes were given to the Indian film, Karunam directed by Mr. Jayaraj, the Brazilian film Through the Window directed by Tata Amaral and the Bhutanese film, The Cup directed by Khywnste Norbu. The Cup had previously won the Grand Jury Prize at the Noosa festival and the FIPRESCI award at the Pusan festival. The Chairman of the FIPRESCI Jury announced their awards for Bye Bye Africa directed by Mahamat Saleh and Deveeri, an Indian film directed by Kavitha Lankesh. Both are the debut ventures of the directors.