Film festivals integrate humanity: Governor
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, APRIL 24
Governor Dr S S Sidhu today stressed the need for larger exchange of artistic creations like films across the world saying it brings humanity together cutting across all barriers, through audio-visual media.
He was addressing the gathering at the opening ceremony of 15th European Film Festival which got underway at a glittering ceremony at Maquinez Palace, here.
Dr Sidhu said that cinema has tremendous capacity to unite people of the world by overcoming man-made barriers and expressed satisfaction that India is major cinema hub, being the largest producer of films in the world.
The governor said that the unique event of the film festival was yet another landmark achievement in our continuing efforts to strengthen international cooperation, friendship, understanding and economic progress, amidst many multi-dimensional challenges that we are faced with – whether political, economic and social. In this backdrop, he said the East and the West are rapidly intermingling and a never before in the past, making renewed creative and enduring effort to come closer.
The film industry, which is a powerful integrator of humanity and a contributor to economic and artistic progress of the nations, has a significant role to pay towards the noble cause of international peace, mutual understanding ,goodwill and fellowship, he said.
The governor further said that the delegation of European Union to India has started a new chapter of friendship and cooperation with Goa through this initiative. “I am sure that this film festival will bring best of European films which will provide detail perspective of life, problems, socio-cultural values of people of Europe”.
He said the European Union has provided us an opportunity to have a close look at the creative genius of its people by organizing the 15th European Unin Film Festival in Goa.
The venue – Goa- is appropriate in more than one way, he said emphasizing that Goa is developing its own film culture.
He further said that the film finance scheme is being reoriented by the state government. Goan actors, singers and musicians, he said, have contributed immensely to the Indian cinema.
At the festival, an audio visual tribute had been paid to Goa’s first film maker Al Jerry Braganza who made the first Konkani film Mogacho Anvdo more than 60 years ago. Goa, he said, has occupied a prominent place in the film festival.
