(Rpt yesterday's DR 94 for all needing)

Panaji, Dec 1 (UNI) Goa is all set to take over the International Film Festival (IFFI) by 2008, state Chief Secretary J P Singh said.

''Programming is the heart of a film festival. To start with, the government is giving more teeth to the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG). ESG will be a single window for all film related activity in in the state henceforth. A programming unit has been set up and two programmers have been appointed to study the process of selection of the films and other aspects that goes with the conduct of the International Film Festival,'' Mr Singh told UNI in an interview.

The programmers will decide how the unit should be further strengthened, he added.

A stable and consistent machinery and human resources have been put in place from this year, Mr Singh said and added IFFI this year saw considerable improvement in terms of logistics.

He defended the use of the festival to boost tourism in the state. ''We are the fifth best tourist destination in the world.

There is a peaceful ambience as well as an active art and cultural scene,'' he added.

Stating that IFFI needed a fixed place as its venue and there was no better place than Goa, he said, ''A permanent venue helps to build the festival into a brand and the state government has been successful in achieving the objective. We are in the learning process right now. But, I can say there was marked improvement in terms of logistics.'' Agreeing that dual control of Directorate of Film Festival (DFF) and ESG was confusing and complicating the organisational matters sometimes, Mr Singh said, ''But, this will not happen once ESG takes over. A consensus has built up on this issue and by 2008, Goa will have its own set up for organising the festival. At present, we are in the learning process.'' The Chief Secretary said issuance of extra delegate passes can be attributed to dual control of ESG and DFF. However, large number of delegates is the evidence of the growing popularity of the venue.

he said next year there would be more screens as several multiplex owners have proposed to set up properties in Panaji considering the success of the INOX which was set up in a record period of time for IFFI in 2004.

He also defended the peripheral activities around the festival.

''It is a form of giving the local people a chance to feel and experience the festival. Locals can also have a good time while those who want to see films can do so. Even in Cannes, there are street events.'' When asked about the proposed change in the festival dates, Mr Singh said there was a view that the festival should not be conducted in November-December because of the peak tourist season.

''But, no discussion has taken place on this issue as yet. IFFI will be held during the same period next year,'' he added.

UNI MR PA ND1122