Saturday, November 22, 2008

39th IFFI lighted up with glitz and glamour

The 39th International Film Festival of India (IFFI-08) got underway today in a colourful and star studded function at Kala Academy , Panaji, Goa. The inaugural ceremony was simple but elegant.The legendary bollywood Actress of yester years, Rekha inaugurated the Festival by lighting the ceremonial lamp in the august presence of Shri Anand Sharma , Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and External Affairs, Dr. S. S. Sidhu the Governor of Goa, , Shri Digambar V. Kamat and the Chief Minister of Goa,. The inaugural lamp was lit with the assistance of Telugu Actress of Goan origin Illina D.Cruz. Amrita Rao, an upcoming Actress was the host and Master of the opening ceremony. Shri Pratap Singh Rane , Speaker of the Goan Assembly, , Shri Tony Rodrigues , Panjim Mayor, Randhir Kapur, Sachin, Tabu and Tisca Chopra. The Jury members of Competition Section headed by chairman Peter Chan and other jury members Mr. Marco Mueller, Ms. Niki Karimi, Mr. Lav Diaz and Ms. Tabassum Hashmi were felicitated during the Inaugural Function

Shri Anand Sharma said on the occasion that as the curtain rises from 39th edition of the festival, it brings together the film professionals from India and abroad at one platform to recognize the excellence in cinema, and creativity and dedication of hundreds of people who are involved in making films. The Minister said, cinema is a powerful medium of connecting people within the society, the nation and the continent. The journey of Indian cinema, which is almost a century old manifest how Indian cinema and its makers were deeply rooted in the reality of their time and displayed the same in their works. Shri Sharma further mentioned, films are powerful way of conveying a message and have great ability of influencing masses and imposes a great responsibility on everyone associated with the film industry to look at how to use the power of cinema to do good for society through the portrayal of attitudes that help in building tolerant and harmonious societies. He assured the film fraternity of all possible support from the Government that would lead to promotion of good cinema.
The Governor of Goa, Dr. S.S. Sidhu said that the good cinema reflects economic, cultural and social reality of the time.The Chief Minister, Shri Kamat while speaking on the occasion said that such international film festivals provide a platform for close interaction between Indian and international film makers, artistes, students of cinema etc. In her address, Smt. Sushma Singh, Secretary (I&B) mentioned that the International film Festival is one of the flagship programmes of the Ministry. The confluence of cinema from all over the world at IFFI’s platform is crucial for the development of good cinema in this part of the globe. Secretary (I&B) further added that the increase in the number of delegates from 4000 last year to over 6000 is a testimony of growing popularity of our film festival.Shri S.M. Khan, the Festival Director announced that in the section of the Cinema of the World, 65 films from more than 40 countries will be screened.

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