South Asian Film Festival kicks off in Goa

Panaji, Jun 27 (UNI) The four-day South Asian Film Festival (SAFF) kicked off to a colourful start in this international tourist destination today with the screening of award winning Afghanistan film ''Osama'' in presence of a galaxy of film personalities from India and abroad.

With Goa declared as the permanent venue for the SAFF from this year, along with the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), the state is on way to becoming a film destination to promote the film culture and encourage talent.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat formally inaugurated thefestival by lighting the traditional lamp. More than 45 films from eight South Asian countries will be screened in the festival with the theme of ''dissolving boundaries'' for promoiting peace and harmony.

The Festival is being sponsored by the Entertainment Society of Goa and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in association with the South Asian Foundation (SAF), New Delhi, with active support of the Kala Academy here.

The films will be screened at Maquinez Palace and Kala Academy auditorium. The entry to the films is open for all the film lovers of the state, who are above the age of 18 years, without any registration charges.

SAF has been organising the festival in New Delhi every year.

It is shifted to Goa this year as a part of the ESG initiative.

On this occasion, the authorities, including speaker Pratapsingh Rane honoured several film personalities, including Zeba Bhakthiyar (Pakistan), Khatera Yusafi and Latif Ahmadi (both from Afghanistan), Zigme Wangchuck (producer from Bhutan), Pooja Bhatt, Sonal Chauhan, Sudhir Mishra (director), actor Randhir Kapoor and producer Madhur Bhandarkar.

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