54TH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF INDIA GOA
( 20--- 28 November 2023 )
In celebrating the joy of cinema, Curtains rose on the 54th International Film Festival in the scenic coast of Goa to a colourful dazzling start. Union Minister of I & B Anurag Thakur was the Chief Guest and helped in the grand inauguration of the fest in the graceful presence of Movie stars Madhuri Dixit and Shahid Kapoor, I &B Minister of State Murugan, Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant. In his inaugural address, the I & B Minister announced that
- In order to make India the most sought-after destination for film shoots, the incentive for foreign film production in India will be increased from the present 2.5 crores to 30 crores
- An initiative of a recruitment drive programme of “75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow ” from amongst the young /budding film students.
- With an annual growth rate of 20 %, the Indian Media and Entertainment Industry is the fifth largest and most globalized Award industry in the world.
- First time A Best Web- Series (OTT ) award will be instituted in IFFI.
- Actor Madhuri Dixit to be conferred an award of” Special Recognition for contribution to Bhartiya Cinema”.
- Courtesy Government of Goa, A Film City will be established in Goa for the expansion of the filmmaking industry.
- Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in Cinema will be conferred on the Internationally acclaimed, Oscar-winning, legendary actor and producer Michael Douglas.
- About 5000 Films and Documentaries from scratch will be restored by the National Film Heritage Mission headed by the NFDC and National Film Archives of India.
Other highlights of this IFFI and inaugural event are:
- A Bouquet of Forty films made by Women Directors
- 270 films screened from 78 countries all over the world including 17 Indian languages.
- 23 Master Classes/Conversations, 50 Gala Red Carpets, and several World, Asia, or India premiers were held.
- Star performers at the inaugural event were Madhuri Dixit, Shahid Kapoor, Nusrat Bharucha, Shriya Saran, and Pankaj Tripathi. Shreya Ghoshal, Shantnu Mourya and Sukhvindersingh.
- International Jury Consisted of Five members –Shekhar Kapur as Chairperson , Jose Luis Alcaine, Jerome Paillard ,Catherine Dussart and Helen Leake as members
- In the closing function, only one actor Aushyaman Khurna was present and gave a performance.
- In the finale when the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Award for Excellence in cinema was conferred on the actor –filmmaker Michael Douglas, his wife, and Hollywood actress glamorous Catherine Zeta Jones was also felicitated.
- Inaugural Programme was hosted by OTT starlets Akash Khurana and Kritika while closing ceremony was hosted by Mandira Bedi.
- Opening film was “Catching Dust” (UK) scripted and directed by Stuart Gatt and the closing film was “The Featherweight” (USA) directed by Robert Kolodny.
- A discourse on “Is It Time For One World Cinema?” with Hollywood legend Michael Douglas and Producer Shailendra Singh
AWARD WINNERS
Film “Endless Borders” (Iran) directed by Abbas Amini bagged the Best film prize Golden Peacock.
Silver Peacock was awarded as best director to Stephan Komandarev for the film “Blaga’s Lessons” (Bulgaria)
Silver Peacock as the Best debutant director to Reger Azad Kaya for the film “When the Seedings Grow”(Syria)
Silver Peacock as the Best Actor (Male) to Pouria Rahimi for his portrayal in “Endless Borders”
Silver Peacock for the Best Actor (Female) to Melanie Thierry for her portrayal in “ Party of Fools”
Best Web Series (OTT) award to “Panchayat” season 2.
Special Jury award to Rishab Shetty for the film “Kantara”
ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal was awarded to the film “Drift” directed by Anthony Chen
Other Good Films of the Fest (Besides above)
“Anatomy of a Fall” (France). This movie bagged top Cannes and other international Fest awards in 2023.
Moro (Philipines), Lubo (Italy), Asog (Canada)
How to Have Sex (UK),
Restored classic “Bidyapati (Bengali)
Zone of Interest (Poland), Woman of (Poland)
Sanaa ( India) and Changing Landscape (Docu-India)
-------Mohan Siroya
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