Goa govt to sign MOU with Zee and Sahara for IFFI coverage

Panaji, Nov 15 (UNI) The Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), a nodal agency of Goa government, will sign a memorandum of understanding with Sahara and Zee television networks shortly for coverage of all cultural events related to the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) beginning on November 23 here.

Briefing reporters after the governing body meeting of the ESG met today, society chief executive officer Ms Nandini Paliwal said the agreement would yield a Rs 1.5 crore revenue out of Rs 5 crore expected out of event sponsorships for the festival this year.

All other media units would be allowed to cover the inaugural as well as routine functions but not the cultural events occuring during the 12-day 37th edition of the IFFI.

The authorities had changed the venue of the inaugural function from the Kala Academy to the adjoining Football grounds where the inaugural film would also be screened for about 5000 delegates.

The inaugural event would be preceded by a marathon float parade representing cultural fusion ending at 1430 hrs on November 23. This would be followed by an aerobatic show by the Naval airforce squadron for half an hour and later the inaugural session will be held, Ms Nandini said.

The Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) had yet to finalise the schedule of the screening of the films which may number about 112 in this edition. The final list of foreign and Indian invitees is also not yet ready.

The event includes screening of the lone Konkani film 'Antarnag' directed by Rajendranath besides organising world Konkani music concert and other musical extravaganza.

The invitees from the film world included Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Manish Tiwari, Bipasha Basu, Bappi Lahari, Sachin, Ritesh Deshmukh, Prabhu Deva, among others representing different regions.

In a major decision, the Governing Council had quashed the tender empanneling advertisement agencies for the event but authorised the ESG to contact the media units directly for disbursing advertisement unlike before following criticism from an aggrieved agency that questioned the tendering process.

As much as Rs 1.6 crore had been earmarked for the advertisement schedules for the event.

The role of each agency engaged in the event management had been specified which include garbage management at different venues, Ms Nandini said.

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