International Film Festival of India (IFFI), the country's official and biggest film jamboree, is all set to kick-start in Goa Sunday. As many as 194 films from 88 countries, cutting across genres, will be screened at the nine-day (Nov 20-28) event to be held in the coastal state known for its cosmopolitan legacy.
Here's all you need to know about this year's IFFI.
» Total number of films to be screened – 194 from 88 countries
» Opening film: Afterimage, a Polish drama directed by Andrzej Wajda is a biopic on painter Wladyslaw Strzeminski
» Midfest film: Tamara (Spanish) directed Elia K. Schneider
» Closing film: The Age of Shadows, directed by South Korean Kim Jee-Woon
» Country in focus: South Korea
» 15 films in competition category
Indian films in competition:
1. Ishti, directed by Dr J. Prabha, is a Sanskrit film focusing on stigmas of Indian society.
2. Sahaj Paather Gappo (Colors of Innocence), directed by Manas Mukul Pal, reflects the struggles of a family going through tough times.
Indian Panorama
Total number of feature films: 26, including three from Malayalam
Non-feature films: 21, including one from Malayalam
Awards:
» Under the section International Competition, awards will be given for best film, best director, best actor male, best actor female and special jury award
» Centenary award for best debut feature of a director
» ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal to a film reflecting the ideals of peace, tolerance and non-violence
» Renowned Korean filmmaker Kwon Taek Im, best known for his films such as Wife, The Family Pedigree, Evergreen and Chunhyang, Ghiwaseon and Low Life, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the festival.
International jury
Chair: Acclaimed writer-director Ivan Passer
Panelists: Larry Smith, Lordan Zafranovic, Nagesh Kukunoor and Leilda Kilani
Other things to be noted:
» National-award-winning filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony.
» The festival line-up includes 26 Asian and 108 Indian Premiers in the International Cinema sections.
» The edition will showcase a special package of 20 award winning short films based on Swachh Bharat theme.
» Tributes to master directors Wajda and Abbas Kiarostami
» A special homage to be paid to actor-singer Kalabhavan Mani, actress Kalpana, Sadhana Shivdasani and Paramesh Krishnan Nair.
» Veteran singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam will be felicitated with the Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year
