'Goal' to be screened at 38th IFFI on closing day

Panaji, Dec 2 (UNI) John Abraham-Bipasha Basu starrer sports thriller 'Goal', released worldwide in November, will be screened on the last day of the 38th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here tomorrow.

Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) director Neelam Kapur informed that the special screening of the Bollywood film revolving around the game of football, loved by Goans, has been organised at the behest of Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi.

Delegates and football fraternity in Goa have been invited for the special screening, she said, adding that Mr Dasmunsi, who also holds the Parliamentary Affairs portfolio, will not be able to make it for the closing as Parliament was in session.

The ten-day festival will come to an end tomorrow with the screening of Spanish legend Carlos Saura's film ''Fados'' and giving away of the prestigious Golden Peacock trophy for the best film, Silver Peacock for the best director and best technician.

Eminent Bengali filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony.

Ms Kapur said working on improving international presence at the IFFI and an encouraging response to online registration were the thrust areas identified by the DFF to improve the brand image of the prestigious event.

She said there was a suggestion that European cinema be included in the competition section. ''But, the debate then revolved around whether the films from developing world be able to compete with the European cinema who have more resources at their hand. Hence, there would be no level playing field in terms of competition,''she added.

Goa Chief Secretary J P Singh resolved the state government's commitment to building a niche for the festival in Goa so that it stands out among all prestigious international festivals.

He lauded the efforts of the DFF and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) for its efforts to improve the logistics, infrastructure, quality of films and providing a good ambience of film viewing to the delegates.

''We hope to make the festival experience even better next year,'' he added.

Mr Singh further informed that the state government was working on a proposal as to how the infrastructure can be utilised throughout the year so that there are commercial returns for the government and it also help build a film culture in the state.

Ms Kapur said director of 'Khuda Kay Liye' Shoaib Mansoor is attending the Cairo Film Festival and would not be able to make it for the closing tomorrow. ''He had his visa till Mumbai and had to extend it till Goa. Perhaps, the schedule did not work out for him,'' he added.

To a question on why the mainstream cinema section was scrapped this year, Ms Kapur said the decision was taken at the Steering Committee meeting of the IFFI held in Mumbai in July. The Film Federation of India (FFI) and other trade bodies connected with the industry informed that the films were not subtitled and there was a problem of distributors not wanting to give the prints for screening at the festival when it is being screened in theatres all over the country.

Besides, the festival is meant for international films which people cannot easily watch, while the mainstream films are available within the easy reach of people.

Mr Singh said the proposed convention centre with a seating capacity of 4000 had come under High Court litigation. ''We are hoping to get the stay vacated. The centre will be constructed within a-year-and-a-half once the stay is vacated. The state of the art convention centre will add to the existing infrastructure,'' he added.

Ms Kapur said the importance of Indian Panorama needed to be publicised and the filmmakers need to be aware that they have to make their entries to the Panorama as it would work to their benefit. ''The DFF will take up the issue,'' she said.

She said 176 films from 46 countries including 59 from India were screened at the 38th IFFI.

UNI