IFFI 2016 to Screen
around 300 Films from about 90 Countries
Korean Film
Maker im Kwon Taek to Get Lifetime Achievement Award
Centenary Indian
Film personality-2016 award to singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Goa is
all set to host the biggest celebration of cinema with the commencement of the
47th International Film Festival of India (20th November - 28th
November, 2016). A curtain raiser press conference was addressed by Director International
Film Festival of India (IFFI), Shri C. Senthil Rajan, , Vice Chairman,
Entertainment Society of Goa Shri Rajendra Talak, and CEO, Entertainment
Society of Goa, Shri Ameya Abhyankar, , in Goa, today.
Speaking
on the occasion, Director Festival Shri C. Senthil Rajan said, that this
edition will be a real delight for delegates registered for the event. It is a
festival of storytellers and IFFI is celebrating directors this year. He further
added that IFFI, the biggest Film Festival of India, turns thirteen this year
in Goa. This festival is not merely a platform to screen films, but also to set
new trends and introduce new technologies. IFFI 2016 is introducing a new laser
based phosphor wheel projector from Barco Electronics, used for the very first
time in any film festival across the globe.
The
IFFI this year, will be screening around 300 films from nearly 90 countries
with a mix of distinctive and variegated story lines, narratives and emotions,
under several sections, he added.
Chief-guest
for the opening ceremony will be the veteran film maker of ‘Sholay’ fame, Shri
Ramesh Sippy, the Guest of Honor will be Actor Shri Sushant Singh Rajpoot,
while special guests include, Shri Prosenjeet and Shri Gautam Ghosh, renowned
directors.
The
gala opening ceremony for the fest will celebrate the journey and contribution
of women in Indian Cinema and themed as ‘Ode to a Woman’, choreographed by the
master choreographer, Ganesh Acharya.
IFFI
2016 will also have a special screening package of the award winning films from
the first ever BRICS Film festival, held in Delhi recently.
The
new media centre at the Old GMC Building, Goa, was dedicated to the Media by
the CEO, Entertainment Society of Goa, and Shri Ameya Abhyankar, on the
occasion. The CEO informed that RFID cards have been issued this year to
monitor the footfalls and popularity of the films. He further added, on line
facility to book tickets for films have been introduced this year. This ticket
booking needs to be redeemed at least two hours before the screening of the
film , on dedicated redemption counters, specially set up for the purpose. To
facilitate speedy filing of stories by the media, IFFI this year has
collaborated with Vodafone to offer 200 mbps speed over the WIFI.
He
further added that for the general public, two events have been planned located
in the area between Kala Academy and the Children’s Park. Named as ‘Goa High
Street’, the event will showcase Goan culture, cuisine, merchandizing and
music. At the other event named ‘Children Film Village’, films for youngsters
will be screened. Furthermore, as a showstopper, IFFI is introducing ‘Projection
Mapping’, a visual delight at the old GMC Building, Goa, every evening. This
will entertain the visitors and passer-by to the area with a visual treat.
IFFI,
the oldest film festival of Asia, is going to have a line-up of esteemed
personalities from across the globe, including with legendary Korean filmmaker
Im Kwon Taek being honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Opening
Ceremony on the 20th November at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, Goa.
Centenary
Indian Film Personality of the Year-2016, legendary singer Padma Bhushan S. P.
Balasubrahmaniam will also be felicitated at the opening ceremony for his
remarkable, extraordinary and exceptional journey in Indian cinema as a singer,
actor and producer. He has been one of the most prolific singers of the country
with over 40,000 song recordings to his credit.
This
festival tries to give the young and aspiring film makers a platform where they
get to learn and interact from industry greats. IFFI 2016 will have gala
screenings, including 4 World Premieres and 6 International Premieres. With 26
Asian premieres and 104 Indian premiers the 47th IFFI promises to bring the
best of cinema from year 2015 and 2016.
The
festival will open with a gala opening ceremony, followed by the opening film,
‘AfterImage’, the last masterpiece by the legendary Polish writer and director,
who passed away last month, late Andrzej Wajda.
The
Indian Panorama section will be inaugurated by the Union Minister for
Information & Broadcasting, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu on the 21st of November
at INOX-II. Second time in a row, the Indian Panorama will open with a Sanskrit
film, ‘Ishti', while non- feature section will open with the film, ‘Ima Sabitri’.
Pluis
Fernandez and Prakriti Maduro starrer, ‘Tamara’, directed by Elia K Schneider,
will be the mid-fest film. This 9-day film fest will conclude with the
screening of ‘The Age of Shadows’, a film by Kim Jee Woon.
As
announced, the Republic of Korea is the focus country of IFFI 2016 and South
Korea’s Ambassador to India His Excellency Hyun Cho will grace the opening
ceremony. Interesting and acclaimed work of contemporary stalwarts of Korean
Cinema like, Sang-ho Yeon, Zhang Lu and Lee Joon Ik will be screened at the
festival.
IFFI
2016 in collaboration with the International Council for Film, Television and
Audio-visual Communication (ICFT), Paris and UNESCO will also present the ‘ICFT-
UNESCO Gandhi Medal’ to a film, which reflects the ideals of peace, tolerance
and non-violence.
The special
tribute section of IFFI 2016 honours Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda and Iranian
filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami, both passed away early this year.
IFFI
for the first time will screen films for specially-abled children with special
audio described technology under the Accessible India Campaign/ Sugamaya Bharat
Abhiyan and a special package of 20 award winning short films based on the
Swachh Bharat theme.
The
47th International Film Festival of India brings the best
of films from across the globe promising a wonderful nine day carnival of World
Cinema.
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RDS/AT