It is wrong to say Goa does not have film culture: Paliwal

Panaji, Nov 25 (UNI) Ms Nandini Paliwal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) which organises the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), said culture is a cohesive entity and it is wrong to state that Goa did not have a ''film culture''.

''I am not a Goan, but in the last two years that I have spent here, I have seen a functioning vibrant Kala Academy here, which is dedicated to honing skills of young artistes.

Culture is a cohesive entity. There cannot be distinction like a film culture of any other culture,'' she said.

Ms Paliwal recalled that the main criticism about Goa, being made a permanent venue for IFFI, was that the tiny state did not have a film culture and termed it incorrect.

The availability of a public theatre in Panaji--Samrat, which is being refurbished, was not available in time for this year's IFFI as the technical committee of the film festival did not approve of the present arrangements, she said.

''Hopefully, we will get the additional screen at the Samrat theatre which is near the present venues. Similarly, when the convention centre at Dona Paula is ready by 2008, a decision would be taken as to whether the Kala Academy and Inox were required as festival venues,'' Ms Paliwal added.

ESG General Manager Nikhil Desai, justified pheripheral activities around the festival. ''These are required to create IFFI as a brand and market the festival. It is after all an investment which is paying off well in terms of sponsorship. We want to make the festival self-sustaining and blunt the criticism that Goa is not an ideal place to hold a film festival of international standards.'' UNI MR HS RL RK1740