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Very nice initiative from our correspondent in India Siraj Syed

"A press conference was held on 19^th November, on the eve of the inauguration of the 50^th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), at Maquinez Palace, Panaji, Goa. It was addressed by the Chief Minister of Goa (ESG), Mr. Pramod Sawant, who is also the Chairman of the Entertainment Society of Goa, and Mr. Chaitanya Prasad, Director of IFFI, among others.

It was revealed at the PC that the cost of organising IFFI 2019 was about Rs. 40 crores (400 million), of which ESG, the co-host, is contributing Rs. 18 crore and Rs. 22 crore is being provided by the Central Government’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, through the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF). Since 2014, when the festivals set base at Goa, the two bodies have been jointly hosting it.

This time, there are three outreach cinemas, if which two are mobile units. IFFI is also being held in Porvorim, which is like a distant suburb of Panaji, in the INOX multiplex there. The two main venues remain INOX Panaji and Kala Academy, also in Panaji. Some 9,300 delegates have registered for IFFI, a significant increase over 2018, but much less than a peak of 13,000, achieved some years ago.

On behalf of filmfestivals.com, I suggested that film journalists who have completed 50 years in the profession or journalists/correspondents who have attended 25 or more IFFIs, should be honoured with mementoes/certificates. The suggestion was welcomed both by the Chief Minister and the Director, DFF, and I was asked to prepare a list of such persons and pass it on for doing the needful. I am following up with the Press Information Bureau in this connection

Incidentally, I have been attending IFFI since 1976 and have completed 50 years in film journalism this year."

By Siraj Syed