9th edition of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF)-Silent Soul, the opening film

The 9th edition of eight-day long Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) will begin on 6th January ,2010, at Ganesh Kala Krida Rangmanch ,Pune. The Pune Film Foundation, in association with the Government of Maharashtra, is organising the this Film Festival (PIFF) from January 6 - 13 at E-Square, Inox, City Pride - Kothrud, Fame at Fatimanagar, Ganesh Kala Krida Rangmanch and the National Film Archive of India at the Law College road and Paud road. Silent Soul, from Russia will be the opening film. The World Competition section will have 14 films, Marathi Competition section will have 7 films and in the Student section 38 films will be screened and will be judged by an international jury. More than 200 films from all over the world will be screened. The festival will have films in various categories which will be competing for cash awards in the World Competition section, Marathi Competition section and Whistling Woods Student Competition section. Jabbar Patel ,festival Director said, “For the World Cinema competition this year, we had got 348 entries, of them 14 films were selected. Historical cinema is the main thrust this year. Since this is the 50th year of the noted film, Mughal-e-Azam, it will be screened at the fest.’’.The lifetime achievement awards at the 9th edition of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) will be given to veteran actresses Saira Banu and Shashikala. Noted film-maker Subhash Ghai will be given a special award for his contribution to the film industry.This edition’s retrospective would be on eminent actor Kamal Hassan during the festival. The Sachin Dev Burman international award for creative music and sound, which was started last year, will be conferred on legendary music director Khayyam. The awards will be presented at the inaugural ceremony. The country in focus this year will be on Japan.