Goa to host IFFI 2004

With over 20 films screened at the Kala Academy the main venue, of the 35 International Film Festival in Goa at Campal, Panaji, besides nearly 89 movies with approx 24 on each of the four screens at the INOX Movie Multiplex since 29th November / 30th November 2004 the first phase of screenings for i) Press, ii) Delegates (who have earned their way thro' for all the screenings, besides obtaining a reasonable souvenir and other brochures for a mere Rs 200/=) and iii) approximately 50 % seats reserved for the publicwho need to pay Rs 50/- per movie for a ticket to be purchased a day earlier at the INOX booking stall at Miramar Beach stalls arena, came to an end today. There was obviously a remarkably high turn out at certain block busters in the Indian Panaroma but at most of the delegates seats were vacant. According to one delegate who is connected with the filmi world he said that "uncertainity of the event played spoilsport " and many of those intending to come students etc could not make it. Another delegate a Government official was himself uncertain of the validity of the delegat card. he learnt of its utility only this morning and had watched only one screening a Marathi film. Many of the delegates who wished to take their spouses and children could not do so as the delegate card was issued on individual basis. There were not many takers for non Indian language films and those that normally patronise them were not registered as delegates. Todate over 7500 delegate cards have been issued and there as many that did not qualify for they were niether persons involved in film related activities nor active members of cultural or filmi clubs . Even those remotely connected were given the delegate cards but there was relaxation. Many of the application forms after 29th November 2004 were considered "without documents in proof thereof " as was insisted upon by those that had booked on 10th and 16th November until 29th November, 2004. This writer screened some of the applications selected and rejected in the office of Dr Ampaddy and was told by him that those applicants rejected would remain the property of the Directorate of Film Festivals Govt of India which means the photographs would not be returned. There was a case of one Mr Braganza whose photos were misplaced and he was ask to produce fresh ones before the delegate cards were issued. Outside the venue there were performances of Goan traditional songs by the Quepem cultural troupe, there was a skit by the Goan youth which won admiration and applause. The idea was to provide an opportunity to stage a short film use of projectors etc on an open platform to involve the youth. Many of the students of Film Division and others interested in the nitty griity of films were seen either taking autographs getting clarifications from Film stars. Javed Jaffery of "Boogie Woogie" and Mr Boman Irani film actor of Munnabhai MBBS fame talking to this writer was unanimous in the choice of Goa as a permanent venue. There was a lot of Graffitti as well some of them read "see you in Goa 2005 " IFFI Goa 2005 yes no doubt "parrikar ki jai" " you cant imagine its happened its happening and it will happen IFFI GOA" This all seen on the walls of IFFI . Then there were photos on display of the events thus far, displayed at INOX movie mulitplex. The beach screenings were recieved well by a huge crowds and today's "Shaan" was witnessed by a record crowd. The other screenings were at Colva, Calangute. and Baina in VascodaGama which had earned notoriety for its "Red light area" but which has been wiped of lock stock and barrel on June 2004 this year. So now at "baina Kai na " meaning there is nothing and moves are on to re-christen the place. Any suggestions. At the Kala Academy the high profile actors prefer to relax in the settings and theres business as usual at the "Daraya Sangam" the venue of the "Film Bazaar" Its picking up said one of the organisors to this writer probably there needs to be a better publicity -- the fear that rooms are not available in Panaji has dettered many from visiting the place. Last night was the Chief Minister's Bash at the newly constructed Aldona cable stayed bridge and that received rave reviews from those that were dined and wined but for the others the islanders they wondered whether the bridge was intended to curtail the travelling distance or touristic attraction or commercial venture to be declared closed for weddings et al; already the Village Panchayat of Aldona (in whose jurisdiction the bridge falls) is in a dilema over an application it recieved for a private wedding to be staged on the bridge. Now as the curtain moves to the second phase of the IFFI Goa 2004 there will be more moments of ahh's and ooh's till the curtains come down on 9th December, 2004 From the INOX Movie Multiplex Godfrey J I Gonsalves Borda Margao Goa India gonsalvesgodfreyji@yahoo.co.in

Goa confirmed as IFFI venue

Sandesh Prabhudesai | August 25, 2003 19:39 IST

It is official. The area from Panaji to Fort Aguada, crossing over the picturesque River Mandovi, will be the permanent venue for the International Film Festival of India. Film Advisory Council and Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad confirmed this after a final inspection of the venue on August 23.

The Kala Academy complex, which will be designed by renowned architect Sir Charles Correa, will house a 1,500-seat theatre and is likely to be the central venue for the festival. Two multiplexes with eight to 10 small theatres, a film bazaar and an animation studio will also be built around the complex.

Goa's scenic capital has been favoured unanimously by Yash Chopra, Shekhar Kapur, Bobby Bedi, L Suresh and Pawan Chopra. Bollywood veterans had earlier suggested transporting delegates from the hotels along the northern coast of Goa at Sinquerim, Calangute and Baga, to the venues in speedboats and hovercrafts rather than by road.

"We will provide the best facilities in the quickest possible time," Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said. This includes upgrading the beautified Panaji city, his home constituency. The central government on its part has promised a world class convention centre on the Fort Aguada plateau.

The Indian film industry, which is worth $1.2 billion, produces the world's largest number of films: 1,000 films in 30 languages annually. The Goa International Film Festival is looked upon as a channel to promote the Indian film industry at an international level.

As far as the information and broadcasting minister is concerned, however, it is not just the film industry that will get a boost. "I want to project Goa as a vibrant symbol to convey India's creativity," Prasad said. "Goa will be ultimately be the centre of the Indian film industry," feels the union minister.

Panaji, May 9: The high-level committee for the International Film Festival in India headed by the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad today announced that the IFFI would be held in Goa in November as scheduled.

The core committee attended by 13 of its members held a lengthy discussion with the state government team led by the Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar in a city hotel here this evening.

Earlier, some citizen submitted their representations to the members objecting to IFFI-related projects.

Mr Prasad told a press conference that the committee, after going through a lengthy presentation, expressed confidence that that all IFFI-related infrastructure would be completed by October 31. And after taking stock of the situation and visiting the proposed IFFI-related project sites had decided to hold the film festival in November. The I&B ministry would extend its full assistance to the state government in organising the festival, he said.

He said the state government gave the presentation of various IFFI-related projects and added that there was not slightest doubt over any delay being caused for completion of projects. “The committee is quite confident that all the projects would be ready by October 31,” he added. He said the IFFI would be a big boon to Goa, and Goa’s ambiance was attuned to such events. The I&B Minister said the advisory council of the ministry had selected Goa as permanent venue for holding the IFFI after considering various locations in the country and clarified that the state government had not played any role in it. The council members were qualified personalities in organising the film festivals, he remarked.

Replying to a question, Mr Prasad said the financial burden in organising the IFFI would be shared by both central and the state government. The state government had already forwarded its application for seeing the financial assistance to the Planning Commission. The Chief MInister, Mr Manohar Parrikar informed that initially the state would make investment and added that the state had sought a financial assistance to the tune of Rs 5 core from the PC. Besides, he said the state budget had made a provision of Rs 25 crore for the IFFI.

To another question, Mr Prasad said he listened to the grievances of the citizens and later sought clarification from the Chief Minister over the concerns raised by these aggrieved citizens. He said the Chief Minister had informed the committee that all norms were being strictly followed over the completion of the IFFI-related projects. “I take the word of the Chief Minister,” Mr Prasad said. On a question of alleged violation of coastal regulation zone for the construction of a four-lane road along the Mandovi river, Mr Prasad said this was the state government matter and that the committee had no role to play in it.

Mr Parrikar said the dredging of the Mandovi river was not part of the IFFI and added that Panaji being the minor port, the minor port authorities had taken a decision to dredge the river so that the all types of vessels touch Panaji. He said since 1992 till date no dredging had been done and therefore the big vessels could not even enter Panaji. “The MPT undertake dredging activities along the port because the areas come under port authorities,” Mr Parrikar informed.

Besides, he said in view of the exposition of secret relic of St Fransis Xavier in November, Mr Parrikar said nearly 3 million tourists were expected to come to Goa. Therefore, he said, it was the duty of the state to create proper infrastructure for pilgrims and tourists. Mr Parrikar said the government would not go for any projects without taking proper clearance from the concerned authorities. He said the main auditorium for the festival would be Kala Academy premises and for the second year’s festival the venue would be finalised at later stage. The film makers Bobby Bedi, Manmohan Shetty, L Suresh, Amit Khanna, film actress Shabana Azmi and other were present.

PANAJI, FEB. 1. The Goa Government has announced long- and short-term programmes for the development of the State taking into account that it has been selected as permanent venue for the International Film Festival in India (IFFI).

Addressing the third meeting of the Core Committee on Goa IFFI here on Saturday, the Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, said the IFFI would be the focal point for development. The meeting reviewed the preparations for the next film festival, an official press release said.

The programmes would aim at the further development of the city and its outskirts and extended to Mapusa, Old Goa and Bambolim. And the measures initiated in Margao would be extended to the neighbouring areas up to Ponda, Mr. Parrikar said.

Explaining the short-term plan, he said that priority would be given to create the infrastructure for holding the festival, including upgrading the auditorium at the Kala Academy, cinema theatres and construction of multiplexes at the old GMC complex.

The long-term plan would include laying of four-lane and three-lane roads on the Miramar-Dona Paula stretch, construction of underground parking facilities, a flyover/road over bridge on NH 17 near the circle close to Patrakar Colony in Porvorim, a track for walking and cycling and a cantilever bridge from the side of the building of the Captain of Ports here.

Catamaran boats would soon be introduced to ferry tourists and locals to the city from Aguada, Cavelossim-Mobor and also from Patto, Panaji, near the bridge. The entry and exit point would be made near Kala Academy. In this context, he said that dredging of the riverfront would be taken up.

Those who attended the meeting included the IT Minister, Francis D'Sousa, the Town and Country Planning Minister, Atanasio Monserrate, the Transport Minister, Pandurang Madkaikar, the Opposition leader, Pratapsingh Rane., and the Chief Secretary, D.S. Negi.

Keeping that in mind, these companies among many others, are participating in the Film Bazaar, which was inaugurated today (10 October) at the 34th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The festival itself opened yesterday (9 October) with lukewarm participation from the media and entertainment industry folks.

According to a senior official of Prasar Bharati, film festivals like the IFFI are good places not only to buy software for television channels, but also to sell to foreign companies hungry for entertainment software featuring actors from big and small screen.

However, it has to be seen if the likes of Zee and Prasar Bharati - which oversees the functioning of Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR) - will be successful in carrying out business deals at the 34th IFFI. It is doubtful for mega deals to happen, simply because the ongoing IFFI is too government and bureaucracy-dominated.

The intentions may be honest, but the hype and hoopla that is generally associated with film festivals - which are increasingly becoming a meeting ground for conduction business worldover - was missing from IFFI that opened here yesterday. Even the function that preceded the festival was clearly dominated by the government rather than the industry!

Kicking off at a time when film festivals at Cannes and Venice are making its presence, IFFI is already proving to be a pale shadow.

The consolation that the organisers of the 34th IFFI can take is that Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) are participating at the Film Bazaar.

Inaugurating of the Film Bazaar, Information and Broadcasting minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, the beginning of the Bazaar has been very encouraging and there was a "lot of excitement among the foreign participants". He added, ''The Indian entertainment sector is growing and I am happy about the response to the Bazaar this year.''

The two business chambers put up stalls at the Bazaar, which also has participation from countries like Uzbekistan and Mauritius. Goa, the host of IFFI from next year onwards, has also put up a special stall depicting its scenic beauty and the picturesque beaches.

Amongst the 24 companies that have put up stalls at the Bazaar are the Children Film Society of India (CFSI), which is now headed by film star Raveena Tandon; Eros Multimedia Pvt Ltd; India's pubcaster Prasar Bharti; National Film Development Corporation (NFDC); Films Division; India Film Exporters Association; Madhu Entertainment and IN2 Info India.

Is Goa ready to be fest venue?
Meanwhile, raising doubts about the IFFI moving to Goa next year, Prasad today said the government was still open to the idea of hosting the fest at some other place if Goa is not ready by next October, according to report put out by the United News of India (UNI).

''I can only say we are flexible about next year. But Goa will definitely be the hosting state for IFFI from 2005 onwards,'' Prasad told reporters after inaugurating the Film Bazaar as part of the ongoing 34th IFFI, the UNI report stated.

However, the minister did not disclose the alternative venue the government was considering in case Goa was not ready by next year.

''That we have to see,'' he replied, when asked if the festival could again be held in Delhi next year.

However, the government had earlier already announced that Goa will become the permanent venue for IFFI from next year and this will be the last time IFFI was being held in Delhi.

Goa Tourism has even put up a special stall at the Film Bazaar to introduce the venue to the delegates.

NEW DELHI: What are Zee Telefilms, the biggest vertically integrated Indian media company, India's pubcaster Prasar Bharati and TV production companies like Crest Communication doing at a film festival?

Kicking off at a time when film festivals at Cannes and Venice are making its presence, IFFI is already proving to be a pale shadow.

IFFI: central team to review work on May 9

THE NAVHIND TIMES[ THURSDAY, MAY 06, 2004 09:41:06 PM ]

PANAJI: The high-powered committee, constituted by the Union ministry of information for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will inspect various IFFI-related project sites in Panaji on May 9.

The Chief Secretary, Mr D S Negi confirmed the high-powered committee’s programme. The committee consists of celebrated film personalities like Mr Shekhar Kapoor, Ms Shabana Azmi, Mr Amit Khanna, Mr Bobby Bedi, Mr Manmohan Shetty and others.

The on-going work on the IFFI-related projects are being expedited and the high-powered panel will review the progress of the work. The team had earlier reviewed the works in January.

In a related development, the government has granted all the necessary clearances for the IFFI-related projects, while the environment impact assessment (EIA) report for the proposed four-lane road project between new Patto bridge to Campal is being prepared by the National Institute of Oceanography. The committee is expected to finalise a schedule date for holding the festival in Goa on Sunday. The IFFI schedule is decided in consultation with the international film festival committees of various countries.

Besides, the high-powered committee will hold a discussion with the Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar and other officials on the same day. The committee will leave Goa on May 10.

The main auditorium will be constructed at Campal football ground and film bazaar will be setup at Darya Sangam of Kala Academy . The Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), which is an agency executing the projects is expected to complete the required projects by November end.

Meanwhile a team of officials from Goa will visit the Cannes international film festival, beginning on May 12. The state government has proposed to hold ‘ Goa evening’ during the India Day programme scheduled to be held on May 18 at Cannes , but is awaiting the central clearance.

The secretary (information), Ms Jayashree Raghuraman when contacted said that the government has proposed to depute a team from at Cannes , but is yet to receive a central clearance. She said the team would be led by a minister. Last year the team was led by the state Health Minister, Dr Suresh Amonkar.

Ms Raghuraman said the Union information ministry had agreed to allot a 25-minute slot to Goa at the India Day programme and the government has proposed to organise a musical evening by noted Goan pop singer, Ms Hema Sardessai.

She said the fate of the proposed Cannes tour would be finalised only after receiving the necessary clearance from the central government.

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IFFI preparations give Goans heartburn
By: Priscilla Mehta
April 18, 2004

The International Film Festival of India moves to Goa from Delhi this year. Conservationist groups and citizens are upset over the fact that heritage structures are being given out for receptions, trees are being cut down and that the Mandovi River is being filled up.

Fashion Designer Wendell Rodricks said, “I support the fact that the festival is happening in Goa. What I do not support is that for an eight-day so-called festival work is being done to destroy the beauty of Panjim.”

Local journalist Ethel D’costa added, “A couple of Sundays ago, they began cutting down very old, mature trees. We went there personally to stop them from it and found that they didn’t even have licenses to do so. The next day the contractors were hurriedly issued licenses and the work continued.”

Said Municipal Councillor Patricia Pinto, under whose ward 17 a majority of the events are to take place said, “People have been asking questions like whether spending crores of money on an eight-day event is justified or not.

"Even when people asked for information under the Goa Right To Information Act, they’ve been told that under the Act there needed to be a competent authority to answer questions and that no one had been appointed to be that competent authority. So by exploiting a loophole, citizens are left with no answers.”

Refuting the charges, Rajiv Sen, managing director for Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), the nodal agency for all the infrastructure works says, “We took time ourselves to finalise the plans and have now put up some of the information on our website.”

Meanwhile Honorary Secretary for the Goa Heritage Action Group Heta Pandit said, “Of the mature trees only three are going to be cut. The planners have tried their best and have agreed to compensate.”

Architect and member of the infrastructure committee Lucio Miranda said, “The issue of the trees is a minor one. We’re proposing to use an urban design element that will benefit Panjim for the next 100 years. Now if there are four trees in the way, let’s not hold back for sentimental values.”

One of the main venues for the festival is going to be the Palace Maquinezes also known as the old Goa Medical College.

Local conservationists are upset that heritage site is going to be given out for receptions.

Pandit said, “Of the structures that are going to be demolished, they were only two minor structures that were built in the 80s. Our group believes in re-cycling and re-use. We actively encourage adaptive re-use of old structures that have outlived their original purpose.”

Moreover some others say that it’s not merely a Panjim problem. Money is being spent to widen roads in certain areas like Panjim, while other areas in the rest of the Goa don’t even have that basic infrastructure in place.

Summing up, Rodricks said, “We would simply like it if the authorities were more considerate to the citizens, the flora and fauna and the historical sites that we have.”

Meanwhile the Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar said, “I’ve been busy with the elections and am not aware of what’s been happening on that front for the last few days.”

Now the state has only seven months to get the city spruced up for the event. But before the officials can brighten up the surroundings, they have much to do before smiles return to the faces of the citizens of Goa.

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FILM FESTIVAL IN GOA IN 2005
`Brand Goa' - Announces Ravishankar

Report by - Chitraloka Special Correspondent, New Delhi Date -13th October 2003

Hinting that there is a possibility of the International Film Festival of India not making it to Goa next year, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ravi Shankar Prasad today said he was “flexible” on Goa meeting the deadline.

“About the festival being organized in Goa next year, we are a bit flexible, but as for 2005, it will definitely move to Goa,” Prasad told reporters at the 34th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here.

The Minister, however, asserted that the preparations for holding the festival in Goa are on at full swing and the infrastructure for the film fest is being put in place.
“The Union Government is in contact with the State Government, which is very enthusiastic about holding the film festival. `I have to written to Tourism Minister Jagmohan on the issue and already several event management companies are approaching us,” Prasad said.

It was a conscious decision to move the film festival to Goa as `Brand Goa’ would go a long way in giving the event a distinct identity even as he dismissed the idea of comparing Goa with the Cannes film festival. “Cannes is Cannes and Goa is Goa. Every film festival has to have a distinct identity. There is no reason we should keep comparing the two.”

Interestingly, the Minister had made the announcement of shifting IFFI to Goa when he visited Cannes this year, and he said the response he got to the announcement made him confident of Goa being a good choice. “One delegate said it is too good to be true and the managing director of the Cannes festival said she could swim to Goa for the festival,” Prasad recounted.