IFFI to host more than 8500 delegates

Veteran director Yash Chopra will inaugurate the 41st International Film Festival of India (IFFI) that is being held from November 22 and goes on till December 2,of which Film Bazaar is a part. More than 8,500 delegates from across the world are expected to be part of the festival. IFFI will also felicitate several actors of which actor Manoj Bajpai is slated to receive an award from the Directorate of Film Festival,Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Government of Goa,for his contribution to new emerging cinema on November 22. IFFI has also received a record 450 entries for its Cinema of World section and the final list will be chalked out soon,even as 15 movies from several countries will be up for the competition in the international competition section.

Bengali filmmaker Rituparno Ghoshs Nouka Dubi,featuring sisters Riya Sen and Raima Sen will open the India Premiere Section on November 24 and have its world premiere at IFFI. As many as 30 films are vying for prize money worth more than Rs 1 million at the short film centre (SFC) at the festival. SFC comprises of 20 films from India,Australia,US,Spain,Mexico,Iran,Britain,UAE and China while another 10 movies will compete for the Vasudha Award,Indias only government award for an environmental film. The winner in the international competition section wins a prize of Rs 5,00,000 as part of the Golden Lamp Tree award,while the Silver Lamp Tree award carries a cash prize of Rs 3,00,000 along with a cash prize of Rs 3,00,000 for the third prize. A Special Jury Award will also be given to one director for his individual artistic contribution.

Five films from Georgia directed by talented directors hailing from the former province of erstwhile USSR will also be showcased at the festival. The five films to be showcased include Temur Babluanis Udzinarta Mze,Sergei Parajanovs Ambavi Suramis Tsikhitsa,Tenghiz Abuladzes Monanieba,Georgy Shengelayas Pirosmani and Levan Tutberidzes Gaseirneba Karabaghshi. American actor Cory Goldberg is also slated to walk the Red Carpet at IFFI for the premiere of a Konkani movie in which he plays the lead role. The actor features in Goan filmmaker Rajendra Talaks O Maria that premieres at IFFI on November 27.

Film Bazaars fourth edition comprises of participatory nations from SAARC such as Afghanistan,Bhutan,Nepal,Bangladesh,Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Delegates will also get a chance to talk shop with festival directors from some of the worlds top film festivals such as Locarno,Venice,Cannes,Sundance,Durban and Chicago. Nina Lath Gupta,MD,NFDC,said,We have been around for 30 years and know festival directors from other countries quite well. The challenge was to get them here together as festival directors are busy the year round scouring for good films to showcase at their festival.

For the first time,Film Bazaar will also organise industry screenings. NFDC has set up multiple screens that can seat 12 people and will have digital and 3D compatible projection. This is being done keeping in mind the needs of small filmmakers who want to showcase their work to foreign buyers. Weve tied up with UFO Moviez to set up the theatres. Instead of having a video lounge,we thought it would be better to have theatres. Industry screenings are a trade event that will allow foreign buyers to see a film exactly as it would look on screen, Gupta said.

Gupta said that for most filmmakers,a film festival becomes the first platform to showcase their movies and hence making a good impression is paramount. Film festivals are an intrinsic part of distribution allowing you to connect with festival organisers,buyers and promotors. For us,its a way of promoting Indian cinema to audiences worldwide, she said. Gupta also said that Film Bazaar will see a lot more stalls this year. Last year,we had stalls on an experimental basis. This time,we have about 17 stalls comprising of post-production houses,service companies,tourism bodies and two foreign stalls by Iran and Taiwan.

Oscar-winning sound engineer Resul Pookutty will host a Master Class Series at IFFI as part of the festivals plans to enrich its offerings. Pookuttys session on sound technology will be held on November 27,while actor Boman Irani will elaborate on the evolution of comedy in cinema on December 1. Gupta also confirmed that filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani will conduct a course on scriptwriting.

This year,the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG),which hosts IFFI,has partnered with the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) to create a mega shopping and food festival to try and replicate the Dubai Shopping Festival. The two major towns of Goa – Panaji and Margao – will don a festive look and play host to the shopping and food festival that will offer extensive discounts at over 200 retail establishments and restaurants,along with a Grand Shopping Hunt that will be the highlight of the shopping festival. ESG has tied up with Kingfisher Airlines,UB Group,Big 92.7FM,Qatar Airways,HPCL,BSNL,Rupa,The Lalit,Corporation Bank,GIDC,EDC,HDFC Bank,Bright Advertising,Lokmat,the Leela and Macroman M-Series as sponsors for IFFI.

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