From Daijiworld's special correspondent (MB)

Panaji, Jun 21: In a bid to do away with the 'carnival image' of the prestigious IFFI (International Film festival of India) celebrations, the organizers are contemplating the possibilities of reducing the peripheral activities associated with it.
 
"There are several feedbacks that festival in Goa is losing its focus. We also have recommendation from the Union government to curtail peripheral activities," Nalini Paliwal, Chief Executive Officer, Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), a state government agency authorised to conduct IFFI, said.
 
Goa is hosting IFFI since 2004. But now the organisers were worried about the way the festival is being projected.
 
"We have interacted with lot of people... Somehow we need to set right, the perception that Goa Festival is losing its focus," said Paliwal, who was the part of Goa team in Cannes Film Festival.
 
The participants have insisted for the need to concentrate on the films screened in the festival, she added.
 
Panaji, the capital city of Goa, which hosts the ten-day festival, witnesses a lot of funfare during the festive bonanza.
 
To start with, prior to the formal inauguration, traditional float parade is organised in the city which runs through the IFFI venues - Old Goa medical college complex and Kala Academy.

Moreover, the street connecting both the venues is converted into an animation street with various entertainment activities planned on the two kilometre long lane tucked on the Mandovi river bank.

"However, the feeling is not against the 'beach cinema' concept but participants object to the additional activities planned during the days", she pointed out.

Paliwal said the governing body will take appropriate decision on, whether to curtail or completely do away with peripheral activities.

Meanwhile, Union and state government are finalising the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will be signed for holding IFFI 2007 in November-December.

The ESG team will leave for Delhi on June 26 to finalise the MoU, which will include several changes focussed towards giving additional organisational responsibilities to Goa.