50th International Film Festival begins in Goa; 200 acclaimed films from 76 countries will be screened during the 9 day festival

The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2019, one of the most significant film festivals in Asia got underway in Goa today. The festival is jointly hosted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Directorate of Film Festivals and the Government of Goa. Doyens of Indian film industry, promient leaders and artists graced the occasion. Amitabh Bhachchan was the Chief Guest at the opening ceremony which was also attended by Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shri Prakash Javdekar and Chief Minister of Goa Shri Pramod Sawant.

Lifetime Achievement Award, the Festival’s highest honour was presented to Isabelle Huppert. Huppert is a French artist and has appeared in more than 120 films and is the most nominated actress for the César Award, with 16 nominations, and has won it twice. The award was presented by CM of Goa Pramod Sawant, Union Minister Prakash Javdekar and Secretary of I & B, Shri. Amit Khare.

‘Thalaivar’ Shri Rajinikanth, one of the most acclaimed and influential actors in India, was honoured with a special award “Icon of the Golden Jubilee of IFFI”. The award was presented by Amitabh Bachchan, Union Minister Babul Suprioy and Prakash Javdekar. Rajinikanth dedicated the “Icon of Golden Jubilee of IFFI” award to all the directors, producers & crew he has had the pleasure of working throughout his illustrious career.

Earlier, Legends of Indian Cinema PC Sreeram, Ramesh Sippy, and N. Chandra were felicitated for their contributions to the Indian Cinema by CM Pramod Sawant and Amitabh Bachchan. The International Jury for #IFFI2019 headed by John Bailey was also felicitated during the opening ceremony. Musician and singer Shankar Mahadevan, Louis Banks and team performed live at the inaugural ceremony.

Late Shri. Manohar Parrikar was instrumental in bringing IFFI to Goa. Recognising his efforts to make Goa a destination for film making, a documentary film on the late leader was screened during the opening ceremony as a tribute to him.

The 2019 Golden Jubilee edition of the International Film Festival of India will see a variety of films in many languages from all around the world coming together under a single roof. The 50th International Film Festival of India, 2019 will witness over 250 movies from 76 countries, with Russia as the country of focus. It also includes 26 feature films and 15 non-feature films in the Indian Panorama section.

The International Festival of India opened with the screening of “DESPITE THE FOG” (Nonostante La Nebbia) Directed by acclaimed documentarian Goran Paskaljevic representing Italy; over ten thousand refugees of minors without parental care are wandering today in Europe, half of which are on Italian roads. “Despite the Fog” is a movie about one such refugee. The festival will be host to various feature films from around the world and will screen movies that have made India proud globally, be it National or regional films that will be featured in the Indian section. This year the country of focus is Russia and movies by the acclaimed filmmaker, TAKASHI MIIKE will be screened. The festival will also screen movies to homage to two great French filmmakers who passed away from our midst, Bernardo Bertolucci and Agnes Varda by featuring their acclaimed works.

2019 marks the 50th year of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which is often counted amongst one of the earliest film festivals of the Asian continent. The festival aims at providing a common platform for the cinemas of the world to project the excellence of the film art; contributing to the understanding and appreciation of film cultures of different nations in the context of their social and cultural ethos; and promoting friendship and cooperation among people of the world.

The 50th edition of IFFI features various sections that honour different aspects of cinema like the World Panorama section that showcases films that curate an amalgamation of new, unconventional, brave and wild cinematic experience for the film enthusiast; and other Indian sections that highlight achievements and strides made by National and regional cinema in India.

A host of feature films and documentaries will be screened during the 9 day festival. Indian Panorama is a flagship section of IFFI, which showcases the best of contemporary Indian Feature and Non-Feature Films of the years. This year, the Feature Film Jury was headed by acclaimed filmmaker and screenwriter Shri Priyadarshan. The Jury has chosen the film HELLARO (Gujarati) directed by Abhishek Shah as the Opening Feature Film of Indian Panorama 2019.

Feature Films: The feature film jury has picked Hellaro, a Gujarati film helmed by Abhishek Shah, to open the Indian Panorama 2019. Filmmaker Priyadarshan is heading this jury. A total of 26 feature films have been selected including mainstream movies like Uri: The Surgical Strike, Gully Boy, Super 30 and Badhaai Ho.

The Non – Feature Jury was headed by well-known documentary Filmmaker, Shri Rajendra Janglay. The Non-Feature film Jury selected the film “Nooreh” directed by Ashish Pandey as the Opening non-feature film of Indian Panorama 2019.

Non-Feature Films: Filmmaker Rajendra Janglay is heading the non-feature jury. Director Ashish Pandey’s Nooreh has been chosen as the opening non-feature film of the Indian Panorama 2019 segment. A total of 15 non-feature films will be screened including Bohubritta, Letters, Bridge, Maya, Iravilum Pakalilum Odiyan and The Secret Life of Frogs.

Festival Kaleidoscope: Parasite, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Patrick, Little Joe, Synonyms, Queen of Hearts, So Long My Son and a lot more fall under this. Feelings to Tell, Summer is the Coldest Season, The Fourth Wall, Ten Years Japan, Ten Years Taiwan, The Other Half and Wet Season will be screened.

Mainstream Films: 14 films including Hindi movies Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Padosan, Andaz Apna Apna, Hera Pheri, Chennai Express, Badhaai Ho, Total Dhamaal, Super 30, Uri and Gully Boy will be screened across two venues – Joggers Park (Altinho, Panjim) and Miramar Beach, Panjim.

Golden Peacock Award: 15 films from 20 countries including Particles, The Science of Fictions, Gamperaliya, At Five in the Afternoon, Moner Manush, Porfirio, The Bostonians, The King of Masks, Tulpan and Leviathan are among the films competing for the Golden Peacock award. Two Indian films Mai Ghat: Crime No. 103/2005 and Jallikattu are also vying for the big award.