The 44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will begin in the Indian beach State of Goa on Wednesday evening.
New Delhi, Nov 20/Nationalturk – The 44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will begin in the Indian beach State of Goa on Wednesday evening with the screening of ‘Don Juans’, a film by Czech film and theatre director, Jiri Menzel.
The 11-day cinematic extravaganza promises to be the melting pot of diverse film cultures and artistic values aiming to promote good cinema. The festival will feature the best of world cinema touching upon nuances of emerging trends in the world of cinema. The confluence of cinema from all over the world at IFFI’s platform is crucial for the development of good cinema.
Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon will inaugurate the 44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here this evening. Sarandon, who shot to fame with her 1995 Oscar clincher Dead Man Walking, will be joined by veteran Indian film actors Kamal Hassan, Rekha, singer Asha Bhonsle and Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi.
The film festival will begin with the screening of ‘Don Juans’, the latest film by one of the best known Czech film and theatre director, Jiri Menzel. He is also a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at this festival. ‘Don Juans’ revolves around the rehearsal of Mozart’s Don Giovanni at a regional Czech theatre. The movie is the 16th feature film in Menzel’s long and much-rewarded career which began in the Communist era in 1966 with ‘Closely Watched Trains’. It is an ode to the gentle seducers of the world and the women who love them.
Indian film actress Waheeda Rehman to be awarded
An official said veteran Indian film actress Waheeda Rehman would be conferred the inaugural Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year at the festival. The award has been instituted to commemorate 100 years of Indian Cinema, and will be given annually to an outstanding film personality for his or her contribution to Indian cinema. The lifetime achievement award would be given to Czech filmmaker Jiri Menzel during the inauguration.
Menzel has made his mark on the cultural history of his native Czech Republic as a film auteur, theatre director and actor. His films are cherished for their lyrical realism and stylistic boldness. The genteel humanism and comic tone of his work has earned him love and acclaim of film aficionados across the globe.
‘326 films will be screened in festival’
Director Film Festival Shankar Mohan said at the 44th edition of the IFFI, 326 films from 76 countries will be screened including fifteen Oscar – nominees.
“A conscious effort has been made to upgrade the level of the festival every year.”
Stressing the necessity of a vibrant dialogue between the film makers and cine goers, he said the festival would have more interactive sessions this year. “The participation of films on digital platform this year is as high as 80% in comparison to 50% last year. Many new things have been introduced in 44th edition of the IFFI”.
Indian Panorama category comprises 26 feature films and 16 non-feature films. The feature films selected in various languages include six in Malayalam, five in Bengali, five in Hindi, three in Marathi and two in English.
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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk India News
