Panaji, Nov 21 (UNI) The Indian Panorama, the most sought after section of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), was inaugurated at Panaji in Goa by noted actor Sridevi on Tuesday.



Talking about the festival, Sridevi said, “It is my honour to be with you all for the inaugural ceremony of the Indian Panorama. It’s one of the most exciting segments of the International Film Festival of India. Indian Panorama 2017 is a special selection of feature and non-feature multilingual films from various regions. The films of Indian Panorama have been chosen by the esteemed jury. Having worked in various industries over the last fifty years, this segment is something I am really excited about. It is my pleasure to declare the Indian Panorama 2017 officially opened.”



IFFI Festival Director Sunit Tandon said, “It’s indeed a great pleasure to be with you all here at the Indian Panorama ceremony. It’s an integral part of IFFI and the aim of it is to select feature and non-feature films of cinematic and aesthetic excellence promoting films in India and abroad and the bilateral cultural exchange programmes and others. Over the years, Indian Panorama is proud to be associated with the best of cinema and we are proud to say that this year is going to be no exception.”



Twenty six feature films and 16 non-feature films selected from different languages and regions will be screened in the Indian Panorama section. Vinod Kapri-directed Hindi film 'Pihu' was the opening movie in the feature film category, while 'Pushkar Puran' by Kamal Sawroop opened the non-feature film category.



India's official entry to the Oscars, 'Newton', and the highest grosser till date in the country, 'Baahubali 2:The Conclusion' are among the movies to be screened in the feature film section of the Indian Panorama over the next 8 days. Akshay Kumar-starrer 'Jolly LLB 2', Amshan Kumar directed 'Manusangada', and Nila Madhab Panda's 'Kadvi Hawa' are among other movies included in the section.



Marathi film 'Kaasav', which won the National award for Best Feature Film, has been given direct entry into the list. In the non-feature film category, 'Fireflies in the Abyss', which won the Best Non-Feature Film Award this year, will also be screened at the festival.



At the inaugural function, jury members of both -- Feature film and Non-Feature film sections were felicitated by Sridevi, who made her presence felt at the opening ceremony of the festival.



Those who were felicitated included Sudhir Mishra, Rahul Rawail, Ruchi Narain, Nishikant Kamat, Nikhil Advani and KG Suresh. Film makers whose movies are being screened in the prestigious Indian Panorama section were also felicitated.

UNI SHK-AKM SW 1826