The 44th International Film Festival of India is organized by the IFFI Secretariat under the aegis of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Directorate of Film Festivals in collaboration with the Government of Goa and the Indian Film Industry.
The festival brings cinema from around the world to the country and presents a boutique of contemporary and classic cinema from India to the world, through a variety of film screening programmes, academic sessions and cultural exchange programmes.
It is based on the concept of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the whole world is one family). The festival will feature the best of world cinema touching upon nuances of emerging trends in the world of cinema. Around 160 foreign films are to be showcased in this edition, under various categories.
This cultural exchange of sensibilities and perspectives, take Indian cinematic sensibilities across borders. Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland, along with luminaries from Indian cinema including actor Rekha and legendary singer Asha Bhosle are participating in the festival. The 2013 IFFI pays tributes to ground-breaking filmmakers Manoj Kumar, Buddhadeb Dasgupta and S. Shankar. Three films of the Masters’ choice will be screened for cinema fans.
HighlightsDirectorate of Film Festivals had received entries of around 650 foreign films for screening during the IFFI 2013. However, a total of 260 films from 70 countries have been selected to participate in the mega film event. The jury for feature films, headed by renowned filmmaker and Editor Shri B. Lenin, selected 25 films out of total 210 eligible entries.
The Non- Feature films jury chaired by well-known director Shri Raja Sen, picked 15 films out of 130 eligible entries. In the feature films category, 6 films are in Malayalam, 5 in Bengali, 5 in Hindi, 3 in Marathi and 2 in English. One film each has been selected in Konkani, Kannada, Mising, Oriya and Tamil. In the non-feature films category, 5 films are in Hindi, 3 in Malayalam, 3 in English, 2 in Marathi, 2 in Kashmiri and 1 in Kudukh.
Legendary actor Manoj Kumar will officially flag off Indian Panorama 2013 during the inaugural ceremony. The opening ceremony will be followed by an impressive cultural programme and screening of the opening film at the Kala Academy auditorium, Goa. Acclaimed Hollywood Actress Ms Michelle Yeoh would be the Chief Guest for the closing ceremony of the Festival.
Awards15 films from around the world will vie for the coveted Peacock Awards at the 44th IFFI. The Indian Cinema Centenary Award will be bestowed on the film with artistic merit and technical excellence.
The Lifetime Achievement Award will be bestowed on renowned Czech filmmaker, theatre director, actor and scenarist Jiri Menzel. Special award was introduced in the series of initiatives undertaken to commemorate the 100 years of Indian Cinema. The Centenary award is given every year to an outstanding Indian film personality under the banner of “A Film Icon” for a person’s contribution to Indian Cinema at IFFI.
Veteran Bollywood actress Waheeda Rehman will receive first Centenary Award for the Indian Film Personality of the year 2013. The award reiterated the rich legacy of Indian Cinema where eminent personalities had contributed to its growth through different stages of its evolution. The award is the second in the series instituted by the Government to commemorate the centenary celebrations.
Country Focus- JapanCountry Focus for IFFI 2013 is Japan. The 44th IFFI will showcase Japanese films in the country focus section. The titles include a combination of Animation and Fiction feature films. Renowned Czech filmmaker, theatre director, actor and scenarist Jiri Menzel’s film ‘The Don Juans’ will open the Festival. The festival features a specially curated section on films from the eight states of North-East India. Indian Panorama category comprises of 25 feature films and 15 non-feature films from contemporary Indian cinema.
First TimersThe 44th edition of IFFI is unique on several accounts. For the first time two International Film personalities, Ms. Susan Sarandon and acclaimed Iranian Filmmaker Mr. Majid Majidi will share the stage at the opening ceremony. This aspect reiterates the growing importance of India. The 44th edition also provides the platform to screen films on Nobel Prize winners, namely, “Mandela, A long Walk to Freedom” and “Lech Walesa”.
The Life Time Achievement Award is being conferred to the legendary Czech Film Director, Mr. Jiri Menzel whose films have been acknowledged as the Czech New Wave Cinema. A film on India’s great freedom struggle leader Basha Khan would be screened at the Festival. A film produced and directed by an Afghan Director would also be screened.
Historical PerspectiveThe first edition of IFFI was organized by the Films Division, with the patronage of the first Prime Minister of India and was held in Mumbai from 24 January to 1 February 1952. The Festival was subsequently taken to Madras, Delhi and Calcutta. In all it had about 40 features and 100 short films.
In Delhi, IFFI was inaugurated by Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 21 February 1952. Since its beginnings in 1952 the IFFI has been the biggest event of its type in India. Subsequent IFFI’s were held in New Delhi. From the 3rd edition in January 1965, IFFI’s became competitive. In 1975 the Filmotsav was introduce and was later merged in IFFI’s. In 2004 the IFFI was moved to Goa. Since then the IFFI has been an annual event and of competitive nature.
The IFFI 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 IFFI’s founding principles centre on discovery, promotion and support of filmmaking of all genres – thus bringing together the diversity of the forms, aesthetics and contents.
The Festival is an assembly of people and nations where the world’s greatest film artistes hold hands with emerging talents on an equal footing. It is also a forum for film professionals to communicate face to face with film lovers around the world. IFFI aims to nurture, encourage and inspire Indian cinema and introduce it to the world outside as well as the many audiences that coexist in this vast and diverse country.
With rapid technology changes, the importance of this festival will only grow as it will bring viewers and filmmakers together and expose them to emerging technologies and the challenge of the emerging new media. New interactions are envisaged; new strategies would be formulated so that with each edition of the IFFI, the viewing experience is enhanced, enlarged and enriched.
Directorate of Film Festivals organizes the Film Festivals at home and abroad. The Directorate of Film Festivals was set up under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in 1973 with the prime objective of promoting good cinema. This is undertaken by organizing a range of activities under many broad categories.
The main categories are The International Film Festival of India, The National Film awards and the Dada Saheb Phalke Awards, Cultural exchange pogramme and organizing screening of Indian films through the mission abroad, the selection of Indian panorama, participation in international film festivals abroad, special film expositions on behalf of Government of India and print collection and documentations. These activities provide a unique platform for exchange of ideas, culture and experiences between India and other countries in field of cinema.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), set up under the Cinematographer Act, 1952, certifies film for public exhibitions in India. It consists of a Chairperson and twenty- five other non-official members. The board has its headquarters at Mumbai and nine regional offices. The regional offices are assisted in examination of films by advisory panels consisting of persons from different walks of life. Smt. Leela Samson, a well known personality, took over as Chairperson of CBFC on 01-04-2011.
The Films Division was constituted in January 1948 by rechristening the erstwhile Information Films of India and the Indian News Parade set up in 1943, primarily for war coverage. The Cinematography Act of 1918 was Indianised in 1952 which made the screening of documentary films compulsory through out the country. Since 1949, Films Division has been releasing a documentary or news-based or an animation film every single Friday for the theatres spread across the country, in 15 national languages.
The aim and objective of the Film Shows focuses on national perspectives (to provide largest publicity platforms to the Plans, Policies, Programmes and Projects of the Government envisaged for the development of the masses), to educate and motivate people in the implementation of national programmes and to project the image of the land and the heritage of the country to Indian and foreign audiences. These film shows are one of the essentials of Films Division.
The Film Division of India is undertaking the Digitization and Web Casting of films. Over a period of 60 years, Films Division has became a treasure trove of national history with a collection of more than 8100 films including archival footage, News Reel, New Magazine Documentary, Animation and Short films. Since the filmic materials are fragile and ephemeral, they start decomposing if not stored under ideal condition. Thus, a plan scheme called “Web casting and Digitization of Films Division Films” was envisaged for protection and storing of filmic materials.
Films are kept in duly digitalized formats through Telecine Machine after which they will be stored on High Definition Tapes on DG Beta, which are latest technique in the world. Thereafter, Films Division has classified three broad groups, viz. Most precious and precious films are being transferred on High Definition tapes and normal films are being transferred on DG Beta. After Telecine transfer and restoration, films are being authored in DVDs/VCDs for regular use.
The National Film Archive of India is a rich repository of Indian films. The importance of preserving cinema as an art and historical document has been recognized all over the world. The task of preserving cinema in all its varied expressions and forms is best entrusted to the national organization having adequate resources, a permanent set-up and the confidence of film industry. The National Film Archive of India was established as an independent media unit under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in February 1964.
The aim of National Film Archive of India is to trace, acquire and preserve the heritage of national cinema for posterity and to build up a representative collection of World Cinema. The major functions of this organization are to classify and document data related to film, undertake and encourage research on cinema, their publication and distribution. It also acts as a centre for dissemination of film culture in the country and to ensure the cultural presence of Indian Cinema abroad.
The National Films Development Corporation Limited (NFDC), incorporated in 1975, (100 per cent owned by GOI body) was formed by the Government of India with the primary objective of planning and promoting an organized, efficient and integrated development of Indian Film Industry. In recognition of the need for a body that could facilitate the growth of Indian film industry, the Government of India merged the Film Finance Corporation (FFC) and Indian Picture Export Corporation (IMPEC) in NFDC. The NFDC has so far funded/produced over 200 films. These films, in various Indian languages, have been widely acclaimed and have won many national and international awards.
Opening and Closing CeremonyCzech comedy ‘The Don Juans’ directed by Czech film director, actor, and screenwriter Jiri Menzel will open the 44th International Film Festival of India. The movie revolves around a small town opera company which decides to put on Mozart’s Don Giovanni, amid love and disillusion, music and passion and a narrative that combines comedy with drama.
The ceremony will be closed with ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’, which is a biographical film about anti-apartheid revolutionary and former South African President Nelson Mandela’s life based on the 1994 book ‘Long Walk to Freedom’. Starring Idris Elba and Naomie Harris, it chronicles Nelson Mandela's life journey from his childhood in a rural village to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.
# Writer Dr PJ Sudhakar is a Additional Director General (M&C) of PIB, Bhopal.
