The Hindu : National : IFFI to screen films on major Goa beaches

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Sunday, Oct 02, 2005

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IFFI to screen films on major Goa beaches

Special Correspondent

High-level I&B Ministry team reviews preparations

PANAJI: The 36th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) beginning from November 24 here will have open screening of films for public in Goa's major cities and prominent beaches.

A high-level team of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry that visited the State on Friday expressed satisfaction about the venue and the preparations under way for the IFFI here. Goa, which has become the permanent venue for IFFI, will hold the IFFI for the second year in succession.

The review committee headed by S.K. Arora, Secretary, Information and Broadcasting, has agreed to the public screening of the films in Margao, Panaji and Vasco and the beaches of Miramar (Panaji), Calangute (north Goa) and Colva (south Goa) following the suggestions made by Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane that the festival should not be confined to delegates.

The committee also upheld the Chief Minister's suggestion that the IFFI inaugural function should be held in the open-air auditorium of Kala Academy Complex in the city. The seating capacity of the auditorium will be increased from 1,500 to 2,000.

Last year, the inaugural and closing ceremonies were held in the air-conditioned Dinanath Mangeshkar auditorium, with a capacity of 900. That had created chaos and confusion inviting the intervention of the then Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, to let the delegates in. Some delegates, guests as well as mediapersons were stranded for lack of seats.

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