International Film Festival: Goa, The countdown begins
India & You
Nov-Dec 2014
GOA IS ALL SET TO HOST 45TH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIvAL OF INDIA, WITH A FOCUS ON CHINA. THE FESTIvAL WILL SCREEN 26 FEATURE AND15 NON-FEATURE FILMS.
With Goa’s peculiar culture and hospitable atmosphere, the state will soon become an international film festival venue like Cannes and other venues. Though this is a young venue, it will achieve the desired results very soon,” said union minister of state (independent charge) for Information and Broadcasting, Prakash Javedekar, recently while announcing that the International Film Festival of the India (IFFI) has now permanently moved to Goa. Since 1952, India has hosted 44 international film festivals. These festivals became annual events from 1975 onwards. And now, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, State Government of Goa and Indian Film industry have come together to organise the 45th edition of the cinematic extravagance, scheduled to be held from November 20-30, 2014 in Goa. A variety of film screening programmes, academic sessions and cultural exchange programmes will mark the occasion.
The festival will showcase Chinese films in the country focus section. Over 26 feature films, 15 non-feature films will be screened at “ the festival. “We are calling representatives from all the 10 countries to the film festival and they will add value to it. There will special classes about co-production treaties because that presents new opportunities for Indian co-production. It is an arrangement of mutual benefit and experience also will get enriched,” the minister said, adding that a new section of Konkani and Marathi cinema will be included this year, along with a separate section on north-eastern cinema.
Elizabeth Ekadashi, a Marathi film, directed by Paresh Mokashi has been chosen as the opening film in the feature film category while The Last Adieu, an English film, directed by Shabnam Sukhdev will be the opening film in the non-feature film category. National Award winning Khasi film Ri — Homeland of Uncertainty and Assamese film Othello directed by Hemanta Kumar Das will be screened in the feature films category.
“The festival aims at providing a common platform for the cinemas of the world to project the excellence of the film art, contributing to the understanding and appreciation of film cultures of different nations in the context of their social and cultural ethos, and promoting friendship and cooperation among people of the world. We are expecting participation of 11,000 plus delegates,” Rajan Satardekar, CEO, Entertainment Society of Goa, the nodal agency for hosting the festival.
IFFI intends to display the excellence of the film art not only on 75mm screen but also through working on the exteriors. “We have appointed Sushant Khedekar, one of the known designers for the sets, as an art director for the film festival. He is working on the new look of the festival like opening and closing ceremony. Some of the basic things are ready like logo for the card. This time, the opening and closing ceremony will be much bigger and better, which will take place at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium located in the campus of Goa University,” Satardekar added.
The guest list is awaited. However, the directorate of film festival has invited megastar Amitabh Bachchan to inaugurate the festival. The written confirmation is awaited.
Come rain or storm nothing can stop the explosion of culture at its best with the magic of movies. It is captivating, exciting and is guaranteed to transport you to the world of creative imagination and introspection. The 45th edition of IFFI is sure to dazzle!
