270 films from 101 countries to be screened; Australian film ‘The Better Man’ will be opening movie at festival
A dance troupe rehearses on the main stage at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium on the eve of the 55th IFFI inaugural on Tuesday.
Photo Credits: Narayan Pissurlenkar
PANAJI
Goa is geared up and set to host the 55th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) which begins here on Wednesday, completing two decades as the flagship film festival’s permanent home.
As many as 270 films from 101 countries, including 180 international films from 81 nations will be screened through the nine days of the festival with The Better Man, directed by Australian film-maker Michael Gracey selected to be the opening movie.
This year, the organisers have picked Australia as the country of focus and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been inked between Screen Australia & NFDC. Under the MoU, leading Australian filmmakers have pledged to participate both in the festival and the Film Bazaar where AusFilm is expected to promote Australia’s unique filming locations and co-productions.
As part of the focus on Australia, its renowned director Philip Noyce will be bestowed the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ever since IFFI began to be permanently hosted in Goa in 2004, the Indian Ministry of Information & Broadcasting organises the festival together with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the Goa government’s Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG).
In a bid to boost young blood in the film world, this year IFFI is themed on ‘young filmmakers’ enhancing the ‘Creative Minds of Tomorrow’ platform to support 100 young film makers from the previous 75.
In all, 400 young students from film schools across the country have been facilitated by the I&B Ministry to attend IFFI this year. Also, a new section and award of Best Debut Indian Director has been introduced this year to recognise young Indian filmmaking talent.
Meanwhile, a special section on Goan films will also showcase 14 local productions.
The festival’s main ‘International Competition’ section will have 15 feature films vying for the top honour – Golden Peacock – which carries a cash award of Rs 40 lakh.
Additionally the Best Director, Best Actor and several other awards are also at stake.
The Indian Panorama section has 45 Indian films listed, including Swatantrya Veer Savarkar (Hindi) and Ghar Jaisa Kuch (Ladakhi).
Inclusive IFFI
The organisers have laid special focus on ensuring that the festival is most accessible and inclusive. All venues will be well equipped with facilities for those with disabilities including features like audio descriptions and sign language interpretation for screenings as well.
Fun and fiesta
For the first time this year IFFI will see the debut of IFFiesta, an entertainment zone with music, dance, food and exhibitions celebrating Indian cinema’s centennial icons like Raj Kapoor and Mohammed Rafi.
Also, the festival’s Film Bazaar, which is touted as South Asia’s biggest film market, will have 350 plus projects where filmmakers and financiers from across the world will mingle.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for I&B, L Murugan said, IFFI has become a landmark event internationally and is comparable to its global peers including Cannes.
Movie veteran Shekhar Kapur, who is the ‘Festival Director’ this year, said with a rapidly evolving world, preserving the movie craft of telling a story becomes more necessary than ever before.
