Team Herald
PANJIM: The Golden Jubilee year of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2019 will pay tribute to Goa’s former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar, who was instrumental in bringing the film festival to the coastal State in 2004.
The first meeting of the IFFI-2019 Screening Committee chaired by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar was held in Panjim on Sunday. The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) chairman Subhash Phaldesai, Rahul Rawail, Madhur Bhandarkar, Padmashree A K Bir, Shaji Karun, Manju Borah and others.
Addressing media persons after the meeting, Javadekar said the upcoming edition of the film festival scheduled between November 20 and 28 would be held in a bigger way as it is Golden Jubilee year of this prestigious event. “A special tribute will be paid to my dear friend and colleague Manohar Parrikar during this edition of the festival considering his contribution for this event,” Union Minister said.
The IFFI, which was held in New Delhi, travelled to Goa in 2004 under the leadership of then chief minister Manohar Parrikar. In 2014, Goa was declared as the permanent venue for the festival.
IFFI is held in Goa jointly by Directorate of Film Festival and State-run ESG. Last year, 68 countries participated, with organisers this time looking at over 70 countries.
“Oscar Academy president John Bailey has confirmed his presence for the festival. He would be amongst the several international dignitaries who will arrive in Goa to participate in IFFI,” Javadekar said, announcing the Russia has agreed to be the international partner for the nine-day event.
The festival will also remember Mahatma Gandhi whose 150th birth anniversary is being commemorated in the country, the minister said, adding that the exhibition depicting life of Gandhi would be part of the festival. “We will also hold business exhibition and road shows in cities of Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Guwahati and Trivandrum, reaching out to the film fraternities,” the minister said.
Considering the scale of the festival, Javadekar said the students of Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India and Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata would be part of the organizing team.
“These students will get firsthand experience of managing the show as they will be part of the management committee,” he said.
The union minister said more private screens would be added to the festival this year as many of the popular films get overwhelming response from the delegates.
The festival is currently held at three venues – Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, Kala Academy and ESG complex. Minister inspected all the three venues on Sunday.
Javadekar said filmmakers including Karan Johar, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Feroz Abbas Khan and Subhash Ghai have confirmed to be the part of steering committee, which will design the golden jubilee edition of IFFI.
“Goa is a permanent campus so we will improve upon every year in infrastructure and delivery. We will make a comprehensive plan,” he said.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said this year IFFI would not be just restricted to Panjim but would be spread across the State. “We will be getting two-three private theatres on board this time,” he said.
