Critics laud selection of international films

Cine critics say this is possibly the best selection of international films being shown at the festival in a long time.

The expert committee, headed earlier by filmmaker-actor Kamal Hassan and now run by producer Pritish Nandy has actress Shabhana Azmi on it among others.

“The committee wants  IFFI to come up to the level of other international film festivals and has put in various suggestions that are in the process of being implemented,” DFF director S M Khan said.

The Goa film festival now offers the highest prize money in the world with a pool of US $ 200,000 (approx Rs 90 lakh) for awards pitched in by the Centre. The attractive prize money and the opening up of the competition section globally has seen a great response, Khan said, with entries from the US, UK and Canada this year.

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee will inaugurate the 10-day edition of the 41st IFFI in Panaji on Monday with director Yash Chopra and actor Ajay Devgun. This is the seventh year Goa is hosting the film festival, which costs the state a sizable Rs 8 crore.

Nearly 75 films from 61 countries will be screened this year, with 18 films shortlisted for the international competition from countries as varied as China, Iran, Israel, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Russia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Mexico, New Zealand the US and the UK.  

A new slot in the festival is the Academy Interest section to promote India’s Oscar entry. This year’s entry “Peepli Live” will have a special screening with its director Anusha Rizvi slated to be here for an exchange with the audience.