By Ashok Shukla
Panaji, Nov 20 (UNI) The 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will begin today evening here which will be inaugurated by bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani will be present at the inaugural function to be held at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium in Bambolim.
Around 200 films from 82 countries will be screened during the nine-day extravaganza. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani, Goa Governor Mridula Sinha and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar among a host of dignitaries will be present at the inaugural function to be held at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium in Bambolim.
Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan will be honoured with personality of the year award at the festival. This year, Canada is the focus country and will be presenting a package of its 8 best recent films.
Acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan will be honoured with a lifetime achievement award at (IFFI). ‘Beyond the clouds’ by legendary Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi will be the opening film, while the Indo- Argentine film Thinking of Him by Pablo César will be the closing movie.
Children of Heaven fame and the Oscar-nominated director Majid Majidi will be present for the screening of his latest directorial venture Beyond the Clouds which was entirely made in India. Twenty six feature films and 16 non-feature films belonging to different languages, regions and cultures will be screened in the Indian Panorama Section of the festival.
Vinod Kapri directed Hindi film Pihu will be the opening movie in the feature film category, while Pushkar Puran by Kamal Sawroop will open the non-feature film category of the Indian Panorama. IFFI will also screen two movies- Hindi Medium and Secret Superstar for the visually impaired persons with special audio described technology. Seven award winning films from BRICS countries will also be screened at the festival. To ensure greater participation of local Goan audience, the IFFI will have a Bioscope Village where non-delegates can watch the movies.
UNI SHK AKM CJ 1129