International film festival opens in Goa

Film star Shah Rukh Khan inaugurated the 42nd edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa, by lighting the ceremonial lamp at the Ravindra Bhavan at Margao on Wednesday evening, in the presence of Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni.

Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat; Secretary, Ministry of I&B, Uday Kumar Varma; actor Rituparna Sengupta; and IFFI Director Shankar Mohan were among those who attended the event.

Chief guest Shah Rukh Khan, while expressing happiness on his being a part of this cinematic extravaganza, shared his views on cinema as a medium that bound people in a shared experience. Cinema was a modern art of storytelling, "a collective focus addressed to all, open to all and including all."

Festivals such as the IFFI were a manifestation of human happiness and should be seen as a sharing of India, as people gathered to share their joy and creativity. An honest effort was critical for producing anything of value. He complimented the organisers for making that honest effort.

Ms. Soni stressed on the growing eminence of Indian cinema and described the IFFI as an agent of the growing acceptance of Indian cinema. This acceptance had given an impetus and an identity to the industry, making it one of the most prosperous film industries of the world. "Let IFFI become truly an international event, an international people's festival," she said.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat spoke of his government's plans to make Goa a more desirable and a permanent destination for film shooting.

Life Time Achievement award, which was revived after almost 10 years, was conferred on French film maker Bertrand Tavernier.

The event showcased an extempore painting by Mr. Vilas Nayak on Mr. Tavernier, followed by the screening of a two-minute clip on the acclaimed filmmaker. Ms. Soni presented him with a certificate, a cheque for Rs.10 lakh, a scroll and a shawl.

The international jury panel led by renowned filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Members Dan Wolman from Israel, Lawrence Kardish from the U.S., Lee Yong Kwan from the Busan Film Festival and Tahmineh Milani from Iran were felicitated by Rituparna Sengupta.

The opening film of the festival, 'The Consul of Bordeaux,' directed by Francisco Manso and Joao Correa portrayed the story of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, a man of conviction who saved 30,000 lives during the World War II. The cast and crew of the Portuguese film were honoured by the hosts.

Curtains will come down on the 42nd IFFI with the Asia premiere of the film 'The Lady' directed by Luc Besson, on December 3.

A group of "Save Old Goa" activists held demonstrations outside the venue, demanding that the closing ceremony of the IFFI be changed from December 3. The date clashed with the annual Old Goa Church festival and would cause inconvenience to the devotees due to the inevitable traffic problems associated with the IFFI ceremony.

The organisers had recently said they would seriously consider the request for a change in the closing date of the IFFI next year.