PANAJI: Goa is gearing to takeover the organisation of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) by 2008.

Chief Secretary J.P. Singh, who heads the Goa Entertainment Society (GES), the State-owned body that joined hands with the Directorate of Film Festivals, Delhi, to hold the last two IFFI editions in the State, told presspersons on Tuesday that the Centre sought to know from the State Government whether it is willing to take control of the event in 2007.

IFFI 2006 would be held between November 23 and December 3, Mr. Singh said. The GES had received 11 responses for its tenders floated for hiring event management agency. The board would finalise the agency shortly, he said.

Mr. Singh said: "We are not equipped in some specialised areas such as film selection and networking for attracting best personalities to the festival. Therefore, we have identified roadmap to take over the festival in a phased manner."

"Essentially what worries us is the software part of the festival in which the DFF has the expertise," he said.

"We are now learning these aspects and by 2008 we will fully takeover. We are building an international convention centre as part of the infrastructure for the IFFI," he added.

Mr. Singh said he was aware that by 2008, IFFI could not be expected to be a self-sustaining activity.

"As the destination gets popular, we will get more sponsors and soon the festival will become self-sustaining," he said. For the present, the Centre would continue to assist Goa in organising the festival.

Consultants

Mr. Singh said the Centre had recommended that Goa should appoint two consultants to help it in specialised areas such as film selection and networking.

"The quality of a festival depends on films and the quality of people you attract," he added.

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