from daijiworld's special correspondent
Pics by Rajtilak Naik in Panaji
Daijiworld News Network - Goa
Panaji, Nov 2: The official poster of the 37th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was unveiled in Panaji on Thursday, November 2 by Goa chief minister Pratap Singh Rane in the presence of chief secretary J P Singh, Entertainment Society of Goa CEO Nandini Paliwal, Bollywood actors Riya Sen and Sohail Khan and film producer Aditya Raj Kapoor during the first official press conference of the festival.
Goa chief minister Pratap Singh Rane is seen unveiling during the first official press conference of iffi 2006. Also seen in the picture are Bollywood actors Riya Sen and Sohail Khan, poster designer Shivani Sharma and producer Adiyta Raj Kapoor
Rane, Riya Sen, Sohail Khan and Aditya Raj Kapoor at the presentation of promotional video of 37th IFFI
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Riya Sen in the backdrop of the poster
This year the main theme of this 11-day festival will be "The wholeworld is one family". It will be inaugurated on November 23 by veteran Hindi film actor Shashi Kapoor along with Gandhi-fame film-maker Richard Attenborough and Aparna Sen. The festival will hold 22 music video launch along with film premieres.
Assuring to give judicious representation to the regional films in the oncoming international film festival of India, scheduled in Goa, the organizers have said that theme of the inaugural function would be “diversity of Indian cinema.”
Riya Sen and Sohail Khan
Shivani sharma from Delhi, seen with the poster
The official poster
Addressing the first-ever formal press conference for IFFI 2006, Rane, who also heads the Entertainment Society of Goa, a nodal agency for IFFI, promised the event to be extra special.
“We have given equal representation to the regional cinemas…. It will be a mixture of hindi and regional cinemas,” Rane said.
The chief minister’s statement attains importance in the wake of controversy that had erupted during IFFI 2005 in which Malaylam film lobby had complained of “injustice".
“Gala night planned during the inaugural event will have adequate representations from Indian cinema,” the chief minister said.
The IFFI will be held between November 23 to December 4.
As an answer to the critics of Goa festival on the pretext of its not being on par with Cannes,with Cans, the organizers this time have decided to have red carpet welcome during the inaugural ceremony.
A special jetty constructed behind Kala Academy will welcome guests who would be brought to the inaugural venue by special boats from As already said, film star Shashi Kapoor would be guest for the inaugural ceremony which will be held at Darya Sangam, a place where Goa’s lifeline Mandovi river meets Arabian sea.
“The festival will open with the Penelope Cruz strarrer comedy Volver and will sign off with Brad Pitt’s Babel,” Rane stated.
Leaving no stone unturned to ensure security during the festival, Goa government has pumped in two paramilitary forces comprising 600 personel each who would double up Goa police strength to manage state’s security.
Beaches, where beach cinema would be screened, will come under extra vigilance with security forces keeping a special eye on it.
Past IFFI Stories - from Daijiworld's Archives: