Semblance of order at IFFI 2007; DFF director

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Panaji, Dec 2 (UNI) New changes made in organising the 38th edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) like mandatory online registration and ticketing system have bought a Semblence of order in conducting the entire event, said Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) director Neelam Kapur.

Speaking at the Open Forum -''Expectations from IFFI'', Ms Kapur said with the introduction of the new changes, things were moving in the right direction. ''The need is only to fine tune them. online registration forms can be made simpler and languages other than English can be introduced. There is no going back to manual registration, '' she added.

Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) CEO Nandini Paliwal said the ticketing system has the provision of penalising delegates who do not attend screening despite booking tickets for the same. ''We have received a feedback that computers show that theatres are fully booked when there are empty seats -- this is because delegates book tickets and do not come to see the movie. Delegates also need to follow some discipline ,'' she said.

They were responding to criticism from a section of delegates about the lacaune in the present ticketing system. They complained that they could not watch certain films because the computers at the ticket window showed that the theatre was full when there were a few empty seats.

Some others said that in case they walked out of the theatre if they did not like a particular film, they could not get entry into other theatres. To which, Ms Kapur pointed out that there were three shows of every film participating in the festival and there was enough opportunity for delegates to watch the film they wanted to.

Malyalam filmmaker and member of the international jury Shahji Karun said delegates' conduct should be such that they show respect toward the films and the filmmakers. ''After all, cinema is a work of art,''he added.

A delegate wanted DFF and ESG to take steps to prevent delegates from talking on mobile or to each other in theatre while a film was being screened. Similarly, delegates should leave the theatre only after the credits are shown at the end of the film.

Another delegate suggested that non-feature films in the Indian Panorama section were going unnoticed and should be tagged along with the feature films for screening.

The issue of Marathi film ''Mai Baap' came up during the deliberations. A delegate wondered why the film which was screened at the IFFI last year was featured again in the Panorama section. To which, Ms Kapur said, that the film was premiered last year and this year it has been featured in the Panorama to ensure that it gets into the DFF library and other international film festivals. It has been featured in the Panorama section this year on merit.

Ms Paliwal said the ESG will have an activity calender from January to ensure that the festival infrastructure is utilised.

UNI

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