Panaji, Sep 6 (PTI): Goa government is trying to get the office of Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry's Directorate of Film Festival (DFF) shifted permanently to the state, which will smoothen preparations for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), a senior official has said.

"We are aiming to gradually make Goa the sole host of the festival. DFF office will also be shifted here. We will provide them logistics to set up the office," Entertainment Society of Goa's (ESG) vice chairman Damodar Naik told PTI yesterday. The state-run ESG is the nodal agency which hosts IFFI in Goa since 2004.

There is a process which needs to be followed to shift DFF office to Goa from New Delhi, which is being initiated, Naik said. "The shifting won't happen immediately, but in due course of time. A comprehensive plan is being chalked out. It will be premature to talk about it right now," he said.

The ESG and DFF will sign an MoU within next ten days to host IFFI, scheduled here from November 20-30, he said. "The MoU will decide the roles of various agencies including ESG and DFF," he said adding that the invitation for megastar Amitabh Bachchan to inaugurate the upcoming festival would also be sent on behalf of the Union government.

"We have already written to the central government requesting them to invite Bachchan," Naik said.