Panaji: Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, will inaugurate the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on November 20.
State Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told reporters in Panaji that Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Dr. L. Murugan, will be inaugurating the festival.
The festival organizers, during the press conference, claimed that the name of the prominent film personality attending as the guest would be revealed on Tuesday. However, a strong list of 40-50 celebrities is expected at the inaugural event, which will be held at Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium in Bambolim, on the outskirts of Panaji.
Sawant will also be present as a guest at this event, hosted in Goa since 2004 when it moved from Delhi to the coastal tourism state. The annual film gala, which will run from November 20 to November 28 in Goa, will showcase over 180 international films from 81 countries, including 15 world premieres, three international premieres, 40 Asian premieres, and 106 Indian premieres.
The Chief Minister mentioned that renowned musician A.R. Rahman will pay tribute to Lata Mangeshkar under the “Lata Mangeshkar Memorial Talk” during the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
Sawant further noted that more than 270 films would be showcased at six venues across Panaji, Porvorim, and Ponda towns. He said IFFI 2024 will present over 180 international films from 81 countries, including 15 world premieres, 40 Asian premieres, and 106 Indian premieres.
The Chief Minister also stated that all venues for this year’s IFFI will be inclusive, with facilities and access for specially-abled individuals. For non-delegates, there will be open-air screenings at Miramar, Ravindra Bhavan in Margao (South Goa), and Vagator (North Goa).
He said that Swatantrya Veer Savarkar will be the opening film for the Indian Panorama in the feature film category. Masterclasses will be held from November 21-27, 2024, with four sessions a day at Kala Academy.
“Saavat,” a Konkani film directed by Shivam Harmalkar and Santosh Shetkar, is the only Goan film selected in the non-feature film category of the Indian Panorama, he added.
As of Monday, 6,507 people had registered as delegates, including 4,023 cine enthusiasts, 1,288 students, and 1,190 film professionals.
