Understanding film cultures and ethos

After understanding the history of the International Film Festival of India, TGIS coordinator Khushi Prabhudesai is even more eager to visit the festival this year

| NOVEMBER 17, 2018, 03:17 AM IST

International Film Festival of India - a name that fascinates everyone. Drowned in Bollywood, Indians go crazy hearing the name of this amazing festival IFFI. Since 1952, the festival continues be a great event. Couple of days ago, while flipping the pages of a local daily newspaper, my eyes caught the headlines in bold and colorful letters of IFFI. Wanting to know more about the same I went on to research more about the festival and gained a lot of knowledge as well. 

The International Film Festival of India (IFFI), founded in 1952, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. Held annually, currently in the state of Goa, the festival aims at providing a common platform for the cinemas of the world to project the excellence of the film art. The festival is conducted jointly by the ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Directorate of Film Festivals and the Government of Goa.

The festival was moved to Goa from Trivandrum in the year 2004 and it is jointly conducted by the mninistry of Information and Broadcasting and the government of Goa. International Film Festival of India aims at providing a common platform for films across the world to be showcased on a common platform. It also contributes to the understanding of film cultures in different nations, and appreciating different cultures and ethos.

The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is reckoned as one of Asia’s oldest and India’s biggest film festival. Since its inception in 1952, IFFI has aimed to nurture and inspire Indian cinema and introduce it to the world outside as well as the many audiences that coexist in this vast and diverse country.

 The glorious state of Goa has hosted this esteemed festival since 2004, through the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), the nodal agency appointed by the government.

Although the festival itself is organized by the Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Government of India, it is done in collaboration with the State Government of Goa and the Indian Film Industry. IFFI is also recognized by the International Federation of Film Producer’s Association (FIAPP).

 IFFI helps in contributing to the understanding and appreciation of film cultures of different nations through the diversity displayed within its film selection. As each year IFFI brings with it the latest critically acclaimed films, brilliant masterclasses and workshops by renowned personalities, and visits from several celebrities in the film industry, both national and international.

 Over the years, IFFI has witnessed renowned personalities from across the country and the world coming down to attend this. The festival has had celebrities like Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajnikanth, A.R.Rahman, Ilayaraja, Salman Khan, Shekhar Kapur, Akshay Kumar, Karan Johar and many more as a Chief Guest and Speaker over the years. The International Film Festival of India has also the likes of Gen Y Film Personalities like Rajkummar Rao, Radhika Apte, Bhumi Pednekar, Siddharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt, Sushant Singh Rajput and so many more over the recent past.

 The 1st edition of IFFI was organised by the Films Division, Government of India, with the patronage of the first Prime Minister of India. Held in Mumbai from January 24 - February 1, 1952, the Festival was subsequently taken to Madras, Delhi, Calcutta and Trivandrum. In all it had about 40 features and 100 short films. In Delhi, the IFFI was inaugurated by Prime Minister Pt Jawaharlal Nehru on February 21, 1952

 The once skeptical scenario of Goa’s film culture changed with a number of Konkani films getting made every year. There are film-clubs flourishing in Goa and the weekly releases at the multiplex are met with a lot of enthusiasm. In the last 13 years of its existence in Goa, around 12 Konkani films have made their way to the Panaroma category of Indian cinema in IFFI till now. This has also invited the interests of various other vernacular films and artists to come out and participate in this category and gain a world-wide recognition.

 Reading about this wonderful festival it would be my pleasure to visit the 49th film festival and see the finest films of the year competing for golden and silver peacock awards and writing a review about the same would be even more interesting.

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