The Hindu : National : Goa determined to organise IFFI on its own by 2008

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Friday, Nov 03, 2006
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Goa determined to organise IFFI on its own by 2008

Special Correspondent

State will become an entertainment super hub: Rane

PROMOTING CINEMA: Goa Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane unveils the official poster of the 37th International Film Festival of India in Panaji on Thursday. Besides him are actors Riya Sen, Sohail Khan and others.

PANAJI: While voicing Goa's determination to organise the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on its own by 2008, Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane on Thursday exuded confidence that the State would become an entertainment super hub.

Goa, the permanent venue for IFFI, is holding the festival jointly with the Directorate of Film Festivals for the last three years.

More sponsorship

The State had managed to get more sponsorship this year — to the tune of Rs. 5 crore from Rs. 1.75 crore last year. The attempt was to make the festival self-sustaining in the near future.

"Goa is known worldwide as a tourist destination, and IFFI is all set to spearhead its growing recognition as an international cinema destination," Mr. Rane said.

Chief Secretary J.P. Singh and Nandini Paliwal, Chief Executive Officer of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), the nodal State agency organising the IFFI, were present at the press conference. Also present were actors Riya Sen and Sohail Khan, and director Aditya Raj Kapoor, whose Don't Stop Dreaming will be premiered at IFFI 2006.

Mr. Rane promised to make Goa the "one-stop film destination of Southeast Asia, on a par with Cannes."

The theme of IFFI 2006 is "The Whole World is One Family."

All the regional film industries would be represented during the inaugural ceremony to showcase their richness and diversity, Ms. Paliwal said. As a large number of national and international delegates were expected to attend the 11-day festival, which coincides with the tourist season, Goa would have a "high system alert" and a foolproof security system in place, Mr. Singh said. Additional security forces had already arrived to beef up security.

Mr. Rane unveiled the special IFFI poster designed by Shivani Sharma of the South Delhi Women's Polytechnic. The poster, symbolising a peacock, was adjudged the winner from 71 other entries. Mr. Rane presented an award of Rs. 21,000 to Ms. Sharma, who is doing post graduation in commercial art.

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