Ronita Torcato's blog

 INDO-BRAZILIAN CO-PRODUCTIONS TO BE TAX FREE; SOCCER & CINEMA SPEARHEADS SPORTING & CULTURAL TIES

Argentinian soccer legend Diego Maradona's "hand of god" goal in  1986's infamous quarter-final between Argentina and England may well be the most controversial goal in World Cup history, but the Real Hand of God is propelling Brazil to go all out to promote film and football ties between India and Brazil.

Indo-Brazilian film productions will be tax free following a decree signed by Brazil's first female President Dilma Rousseff. That's not all.
In a happy marriage of sports and culture, Brazilian film-makers, in tandem with their sports admins, will delight Goan enthusiasts of the game with  fancy footwork and training from the Latin American country's football stars and coaches.

Elaborating on the project, Luis Henrique Severiano Riberio Baez, producer of "Mario Filho:The Creator of Crowds"  said that this would be part of "a series of exchanges between Brazil, Goa and India."
Goa is being given Most Favoured Status  because it is, like Brazil and Argentina, football crazy. Kerala too will be part of this favoured set  and its football enthusiasts  will also get the opportunity to be coached by Brazilian trainers.
 Before the special soccer camps get underway, a fest of the Soccer and Film  package screened at the on going 42nd IFFI will travel to Kerala in January.
Baez and  Oscar Maron Filho, a journalist and director of "Mario Filho:The Creator of Crowds" are at IFFI and with, Juan Pablo Roubio, Director of " Argentina Futbol Club " are united in their desire to " enhance cultural relations, learn about Indian movies and the Indian film market and collaborate on co-productions."
Baez and Filho and Roubio are working out the modalities of formal tie-ups with Goa, to begin with, followed by Kerala. 

Roubio whose film decodes the soccer identity in Argentina and which sociocultural elements define it,asserts "football brings people together. Football is being spread by globalisation."
Pressed by this correspondent, Roubio concedes there is "some violence" at matches ( in Europe), but " this really has nothing with the game; it is an undesirable  commercial development."

 For those who came in late, a  special package called “Soccer in Cinema " is being screened for the first time ever at IFFI ) venue: the Campal Football Grounds)  giving Goans (and IFFI delegates)  an intimate look into a  beloved sport that reverberates far beyond the pitch."

The segment's  showcase includes  More Than Just a Game (South Africa) and Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait (France)  A Barefoot Dream (South Korea) - directed by Kim Tae-gyun and Foot of God (Italy) directed by Louis Sardiello and The Best Women in the World (Germany) -directed by Britta Becker.