Goa All Set to Host 41st International Film Festival of India

Pics by Applied Art
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

• Curtain set to raise on IFFI Goa 2010, the world’s "richest" film festival
• Awards worth Rs. 90 lakhs to be given away during the festival
• IFFI Goa 2010 to be held from 22nd November to 2nd December 2010
• Union Railway minister Mamata Benerjee will be inaugurating 41st Edition of International Film Festival of India on 22nd November 2010
• 300 films from 61 countries will be screened during the festival
• Yash Chopra and Ajay Devgan to be present for the inaugural ceremony
• Oscar winner Rasul Pukutty and Boman Irani to conduct Master Classes
• The state to don a festive look – jazz musicians, acrobats, caricature artists and jugglers to be part of the festival
• Goa’s biggest Shopping and Food Festival inaugurated today

Panaji, Nov 22: The IFFI Goa 2010 curtain raiser event was held on Sunday, November 21, attended by Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat, who announced that Union Railway minister Mamata Benerjee will be inaugurating 41st edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Panaji on Monday, Nov 22. The ceremony will be held at Kala Academy, a complex tucked on Mandovi river bank and will see presence of leading representatives from the film fraternity, including Yash Chopra and Ajay Devgan. The festival will have screening of 300 films from across 61 countries this year, and in total cash prizes worth Rs.90 lac will be given to the winners, which is the highest amount ever in the world, from film festival standards. The Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), which hosts IFFI, also inaugurated a mega shopping and food festival in partnership with Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), wherein extensive discounts will be offered at over 200 retail establishments and restaurants.

The festival, which is expected to bring close to 7,000 delegates from all over the world at one venue will also witness a host of celebrities. Actor Aftab Shivdasani and actress Gracy Singh will compere the inaugural function. Another first for this year's festival are the Master Classes that will be conducted on various days one by Resul Pokutty on sound technology in cinema, another by Boman Irani on the evolution of comedy in Indian cinema and a third by James Javier on the Flamenco dance and Flamenco in Spanish cinema.  Freida Pinto of the Slumdog Millionaire fame, will be present for the screening of her film "I met a tall dark stranger" directed by Woody Allen.

The Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) has also organized Short Film Centre (SFC), an initiative to bring together short film makers, buyers, festival organizers and funding agencies. SFC will have two broad categories under it, namely, International Competition which will have 20 films from across the world and Environmental Competition films, which will compete for the coveted Vasudha Award, India’s only government award for an environmental film.

DFF Print team seen all busy checking the film prints which will be screened during the 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji.

Mandovi bridge seen illuminated for 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji.

Flags of the 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji.

The OLD GMC building complex seen illuminated in view of the 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji.

Two companies of CISF jawans have been deployed for the 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji.

Noted bollywood actress Gracy Singh seen during the inauguration of the IFFI shopping and food festival on the eve of 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Sunday.

IFFI stalls along the D. Bandodkar marg in Panaji.

Dayanand Bandodkar marg seen illuminated in view of the 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Sunday.

"Around 300 films from 61 countries of the world will be screened during the 10 day festival at 11 venues in the state," chief minister Digambar Kamat said during a curtain-raiser press conference here in Panaji.

Director of the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) S M Khan, revealed that 18 films will compete for five awards to be held this year.

"This year we have five awards worth a total of Rs 90 million or $ 200,000 for the awards. This is the highest amount for any film festival. Also for the first time we are introducing two additional silver peacock awards one for best actor and the other for best actress," Khan announced.

Talking about the mega film festival, Manoj Srivastava, CEO, Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) said, "Goa is truly on it’s way to becoming the world’s next entertainment super-hub, with IFFI 2010 spearheading its growing recognition as an International cinema destination. This year, co host ESG along with DFF, has laid special emphasis on promoting Short Films by upcoming Directors, as well premiering Films by noted filmmakers. ESG will also showcase Goa’s legendary hospitality and spirit of celebration in all it’s splendor though the Shopping and Food extravaganzas, Concerts and more."

Unlike previous editions of IFFI, this edition will also witness screening of films from North America and Europe. They were earlier left out on grounds that films from countries that don't usually get publicity should be given a chance. When asked, why the change in policy, Khan said it was in order not to miss out on important films from those countries.

The Indian Panorama presents a bouquet of 26 feature and 21 non-feature films from the best and promising film makers from across the country. The Indian Panorama’s opening feature film ‘Mee Sindhutai Sapkal’ is based on the life of a living social reformer Sindhutai Sapkal.

This edition will have a special focus on films from countries like Mexico, Georgia and Sri Lanka, besides also a special section on films from Orissa, which is celebrating the platinum jubilee of Oriya cinema.

The International competition will have 18 films including three Indian films, which will be judged by five member jury led by Polish filmmaker Jerzy Antczak. Other jury members include Emmy award winning Canadian filmmaker Sturla Gunnars, Australian legendary actor Mick Molloy and French filmmaker Oliver Pere and South Indian film actress Revathy Menon.

A new section Academy Interest is being introduced from 2010. A special screening of India’s official Oscar entry this year Peepli Live is being organised, enabling a unique international platform to position an Indian film in the run-up to the Academy awards. And from this year, 3 Indian films from Panorama would be making it to the International competition category.