The 44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI 2013) took off at Goa Kala Academy with lights, camera, action, and glamour.
The ever-gracious Waheeda Rehman and Oscar winning actor Susan Sarandon lit the ceremonial lamp at the IFFI inaugural in the presence of other dignitaries from art, music and movies including Pandit Birju Maharaj, the world-renowned Kathak legend and acclaimed Iranian director Majid Majidi.
Waheeda Rehman was awarded with the First Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality. Jiri Menzel, master filmmaker from the Czech Republic got the lifetime achievement award. ‘I feel proud to know that my films are well-accepted here in India’, Jiri Menzel said during his address to the audience.
Susan Sarandon expressed her gratitude saying, ‘India has a rich history of film-making and is always eager to make films which broaden our horizon.’
Prem Chopra, Nana Patekar, Rekha, Jackie Shroff, Rani Mukherjee, Manoj Bajpai, Huma Qureshi and Alia Bhatt were among other stars from showbiz, which graced the event.
The event saw spellbinding classical performances on melodies such as ‘Mohe panghat pe nandlal ched gayo re’, ‘Thaade rahiyo o banke yaar re’, ‘Kaanha main tose haari’, ‘Main radha teri tu mera shyam’, offering a majestic blend of elusive magic and devotional currents.
A jugalbandi featuring Kathak doyen Pandit Birju Maharaj and sitar maestro Ustad Nishat Khan had an intoxicating effect on the audience.
The multi-dimensional film personality, Kamal Hassan said he owed his success as an artist to the fraternity of the world cinema. Describing her association with the world of cinema, Asha Bhosle acknowledged that seventy years in Indian film industry gave her immense love and affection.
The 10-day festival, 20th—30th November 2013, will screen a total of 328 films; 157 Indian and 171 foreign films. With Japan being the focus country; films from Bhutan, Paraguay, East Timor, Haiti, Latvia, Estonia, Chad and other countries will have their screening during the festival. In addition to this, a list of 15 Oscar-nominated movies has also made to the screening list.
The festival that was first held in Mumbai from 24 January to 1 February 1952 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 Festival is an assembly of people and nations where the world’s greatest film artists join hands with emerging talents on an equal footing to encourage, nurture and inspire quality cinema.
