National

Prize money up for IFFI best film

PANAJI: The International Film Festival of India 2008 will see a major enhancement in the prize money for the Golden Peacock (best film) and the Silver Peacock (second best film) in the competition category.

Director of Information and Publicity Nikhil Desai, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), Goa government’s entertainment body which jointly holds the IFFI in association with the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF), said here on Wednesday that the prize money for the best film had been raised from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 40 lakh.

The prize for the runner-up film would be increased from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 15 lakh.

The composition of the competition comprising films from Latin America, Asia Pacific and Africa would continue, said Mr. Desai, who was the member of the Goa delegation for the Cannes International Film Festival.

While declining to comment on the exact schedule for the complete takeover of the IFFI by the Goa government from the DFF, the film directorate arm of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting,

Mr. Desai, however, divulged plans of the Goa government to elevate the status of the IFFI so that it attracted quality films from world over.

“Right now, efforts are on at the ESG to build up its capacity to take over the entire aspects of the IFFI,” Mr. Desai said when asked on the complete takeover of the IFFI by the ESG.

Mr. Desai said the ESG had “in principle” decided to sign an event management company for the IFFI for three years.

Already four companies had responded.

To a question, Mr. Desai said the IFFI this year would have more special premieres from Bollywood as part of strategy to attract glamour.

The ESG would hold the four-day South Asian film Festival here from June 27.

Holding of such festivals was part of initiatives intended to make the ESG a self-sustaining entertainment body.

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