Margao : After warning of protest by Congress Party, Entertainment Society of Goa has now removed the minimum four entries condition from the eligibility criteria of Goan Premier Section. This is not enough. I demand that Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant must immediately intervene and ensure that all the films under the said section are part of ” Official Section” of International Film Festival of India 2021 stated Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat.
It is unfortunate that the BJP Government has no respect for the artist community and film fraternity of Goa. Film Makers have put in hard efforts to produce films braving all adversities during Covid Pandemic. They deserve appropriate recognition. Screening their films in Official Section of IFFI-2021 will come as a big reward for them Digambar Kamat said.
Government must immediately cancel Clause 9 of the Regulations issued by the Entertainment Society of Goa which clearly states that “Producers will not be entitled for any Financial Assistance as per the Film Finance Scheme for the screening of the film in this Special Goan Premier Section Konkani/Marathi Feature and Non- Feature Films during the 52nd IFFI, 2021”. This is injustice on local film producers whose films will be screened without any benefits under Goa Film Finance Scheme pointed Digambar Kamat.
The above clause of the Regulations clearly exposes the fact that the “Special Goan Premier and Non- Premier Section for Konkani /Marathi Feature and Non-Feature Films is just an informal screening of films during IFFI and producers will not have the right to claim that their film was screened in an International Film Festival claimed Digambar Kamat.
It may be noted that under Clause 8 (c) of Film Finance Scheme of the Goa Government, those Features Films which are screened in IFFI are eligible for getting an assistance of Rs. 5 Lakhs and Non-Feature Films are eligible to get an assistance of Rs. 2.5 Lakhs under Goa Film Finance Scheme.
The BJP Government kept the Film Finance Scheme dormant for almost last 5 years. During my government, from 2007 to 2011, maximum Goan films were screened in Official Sections of IFFI. ESG had exclusive rights of programming and curating almost 5 to 6 official sections of IFFI. We also honoured eminent young Goan film makers and gave them rewards for their outstanding performances at various International Film Festivals Digambar Kamat stated.
