The flagship international film festival of India ?IFFI ?has not only transformed the face of Margao in Goa but has become a commercial success too even as a large number of films produced and released in India fails to attract international eyeballs.
Inaugurated by actor Shah Rukh Khan, the 42nd edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) managed to cover over half its cost from a spate of sponsors and brands including Qatar Airways, Kingfisher, tourism ministry and others. The organisers of IFFI 2011 peg the total cost of the festival to be a little over R10 crore.
Speaking on the occasion Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said that IFFI 2011 has truly become a mass event. ?We have made sure that the football-loving citizens of Goa can follow IFFI from the special screens set up in a number of football fields.? Soni was the guest of honour in the 10-day event that started in Margao, 40 km from state capital Panjim. IFFI 2011 will see over 8,000 delegates from across the globe participating. On its part Shah Rukh Khan praised the efforts of the Indian film technicians and artists and thanked IFFI for developing a new world class venue in Margao.
The festival which was earlier held under the aegis of the Directorate of Film Festival (DFF) has now been de-linked from it, with setting up of a special purpose vehicle – IFFI Directorate–under the I&B ministry and now functions as an independent entity.