44th IFFI opens on 20th December with Jiri Menzel’s ’Don Juans” and closes on 30th with ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ directed by Justin Chadwick.

All set for the prestigious film  festival being organized by the festival secretariat of the Ministry  of Information and Broadcasting ,Govt. of India .The 44th edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is being held from 20th to 30th November, 2013. The 11-day cinematic extravaganza promises to be the melting pot of diverse film cultures and artistic values aiming to promote good cinema. With the presence of special guests like Rekha, Asha Bhonsle, Kamal Hassan, the star studded opening ceremony will be a window to visual treat for film lovers and critics. True to the concept of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’(the whole world is one family), the inaugural function of the festival brings together Academy Award winning Hollywood actor and Chief Guest of the Festival, Susan Sarandon, critically acclaimed Iranian director, producer and screen writer Majid Majidi and Polish film maker Agnieszka Holland.
Waheeda Rehman ,the actor in the golden era of Indian cinema ,will be conferred with the first Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year 2013. One of the best known representatives of the ‘New Wave Czech Cinema’, Jiri Menzel will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award on the occasion. His latest work, ’Don Juans” will be the opening film of the festival. The festival will close with a film portraying Nelson Mandela`s life journey ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ directed by Justin Chadwick and written by William Nicholsan. Fifteen Films from around the world will vie for the coveted Golden Peacock Award.
The festival will spotlight cinema from North-East States of India. The Country Focus this year is on Japan and the segment will showcase a special package of the best of Japan .