PANAJI
Goa is getting ready to host the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), with November bringing cinema lovers, critics, celebrities, and students to the capital city to join the celebrations.
Since its inception in 1952, the festival has served as a platform for powerful storytelling and has connected the global film community. The 2024 edition is set to continue this tradition, say the organisers.
This year, there will be a strong focus on workshops led by cinema professionals, alongside the eligibility criteria for entry. With the Indian film industry gaining recognition globally, IFFI has evolved into more than just a festival. It has become an important stage to highlight the growing influence of Indian cinema worldwide.
The event also honours filmmakers, artists, and producers who capture the changing social landscape and reflect these transformations through their films.
The 2024 IFFI will feature 16 films in its curated segment, including heart-warming stories and powerful documentaries. Audiences can look forward to groundbreaking stories, including national and international premieres.
A key section of IFFI is the Indian Panorama, which will showcase 25 feature films and 20 non-feature films selected from 262 entries.
he opening film will be Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, while the non-feature section will start with the Ladakhi film Ghar Jaisa Kuch, directed by Harsh Sangani.
Debutant filmmakers to be mentored through offline, online sessions
PANAJI: At the 55th IFFI, experienced editors from both India and abroad will mentor selected filmmakers in editing sessions, helping them improve their skills and refine their vision in the ‘Work-in-Progress Lab’. The mentors will include a range of industry professionals, such as film festival directors, critics, producers, and seasoned editors, all dedicated to helping filmmakers create a polished final cut. These sessions will be held both online and offline.
The Lab focuses on fiction films aimed at theatrical release, with a maximum of six films selected each year. The directors and editors of these films will have the special chance to present their rough cuts to a panel of respected mentors and receive valuable one-on-one feedback.
Film Bazaar has announced six outstanding fiction films from young and emerging filmmakers, five of whom are debut directors.
These films are Shape of Momos by Tribeny Rai (Nepali), Gaangshalik (Gaangshalik – River Bird) by Shakteedhar Bir (Bengali), Yerra Mandaram (The Red Hibiscus) by Mohan Kumar Valasala (Telugu), Kaatti Ri Raatti (Hunters Moon) by Ridham Janve (Gaddi, Nepali), Umal by Siddharth Badi (Marathi), and The Good, The Bad, The Hungry by Vivek Kumar (Hindi).
