PANJIM: For the first time, the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will screen 26 films that were entered for the Oscar awards at its 46th edition to be held from November 20-November 30 in Goa. Argentina’s Oscar entry and this year’s biggest Argentinean box office hit – ‘The Clan’ – will close the festival.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Director of Directorate of Film Festival (DFF) Centhil Rajan said they received 790 entries from 100 countries, of which the World Cinema section will present around 187 films from 89 countries. “This includes, 26 official Oscar entry films. This for the first time that such large number of Oscar entry films will be screened at the festival,” he said.
The Indian Panorama section, which will be opened by Sanskrit movie ‘Priyamanasam’, will screen 26 feature and 21 non-feature films. There are 15 films from various countries, including Argentina, Belgium, Colombia, France, Germany, competing for the prize.
Rajan said IFFI 2015 will offer a confluence of film screenings, knowledge sharing, master classes, seminars, panel discussions among other attractions. “Goa has been the perfect venue for IFFI since the last 11 years and the lively and scenic settings of Goa are offering a great platform for art, cinema and audience,” he said.
The festival will be inaugurated by Anil Kapoor, and the opening film will be ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’ written and directed by Mathew Brown.
Oscar-winner music composer AR Rehman will be the guest for the closing ceremony. Rajan said that the Focus on North East Cinema section, will feature a special retrospective on the ace filmmaker Aribam Shyam Sharma and special section on new generation filmmakers from the region.
Focusing on skill building in film making, IFFI, in association with the Oscar Academy will organize master classes with eminent Academy members including Mark Mangini, Milt Shefter and others. “For the first time IFFI will be recognizing young talent from the world of cinema under its new segment – First Cut – showcasing some outstanding works of debutant directors,” the director said.
The festival will pay special tribute to Danish-French actress, director and screenwriter Anna Karina and will feature three of her films. The festival will also have a retrospective on actor Shashi Kapoor.
IFFI 2015 will host a series of fringe activities, which includes setting up of three food villages – International Food Village, Balcao Food Village and Street Food Festival. The IFFI venue will also have a book store, which will have books written by Goans and on Goa.
