By: Amit Agarwal
For the past few years, a lot of IFFI regulars have been commenting on the falling and flailing IFFI., owing to organisational debacle and meagre footfalls.
As if to give the 47th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) a fillip; the state government has more than doubled the budget from Rs. 6 crores (2015) to over Rs. 13 crores this year, the Directorate of Film Festival (DFF) has also increased the number of screenings to a reported 300 movies this year.
To tap the mainstream audience – the organisers are screening for public, four popular films namely Sholay, Maghadeera (Hindi-dubbed), and recently released Salman Khan’s Sultan and Akshay Kumar’s Airlift. IFFI will also host as many as 10 Marathi films including Nana Patekar-starrer Natasamrat, along with Konkani movies. These films will be screened at 20 indoor and outdoor locations in the state (both south and north Goa), the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) confirmed.
DFF said that in order to enhance convenience and to reduce unnecessary prolonging of the event, it had decided to clinically cut down the number of days of IFFI from 11 days to 9 days between November 20th and 28th. “Based on our previous year’s assessment we have dropped separate North-East section because of its less popularity and also there will be no ‘Homage’ section as we have not received enough entries. But will be showcasing four NE cinemas as a part of other entries,” Director of DFF, C Senthil Rajan said at the press conference.
Reportedly, ESG has also planned several parallel engagements for the local populace around the IFFI venue, such as ‘Goa High Street’ (event showcasing Goan culture, cuisine, merchandising and music) and ‘Children Film Village’, for youngsters and families. DFF Director said, unlike last year, where only delegates were allowed to National Film Heritage Mission, this year NFHM event themed on 70 years of Indian film and independence will be thrown open to the public.
According to ESG, altogether 5,500 delegates have registered for IFFI 2016, comparatively higher than last year’s delegate count of 3,500.