The
much-awaited
51st
edition
of
the
International
Film
Festival
of
India
(IFFI)
got
off
with
enthralling
cultural
performances
amidst
a
dazzling
ceremony
celebrating
the
joy
of
cinema.
Dr.
Shyama
Prasad
Mukherjee
Indoor
Stadium
at
Panaji
in
Goa
today
reverberated
with
the
passion
of
filmstars,
filmmakers
and
film
lovers
from
around
the
world.
The
Opening
Ceremony
of
Asia’s
oldest
and
India’s
biggest
film
festival
has
been
hosted
by
actor,
author
and
film-producer
Tisca
Chopra
and
became
further
illuminated
by
the
dazzling
presence
of
eminent
film-maker
Priyadarshan
Nair
and
noted
actor
Sudeep
who
has
been
the
Chief
Guest,
among
other
celebrated
film
personalities.
The
function
also
saw
the
graceful
presence
of
Union
Minister
for
Information
and
Broadcasting,
Shri
Prakash
Javadekar
and
Chief
Minister
of
Goa,
Shri
Pramod
Sawant,
among
other
dignitaries.
Speaking
on
the
occasion,
Shri
Sudeep,
also
known
as
Kichha
Sudeep
said,
“Let
Cinema
be
the
new
pandemic”.
He
said,
“Cinema
is
one
fraternity
that,
from
one
seat,
takes
you
all
around
the
world,
gets
you
the
knowledge,
gets
you
closer
to
the
culture
of
every
fraternity
across
the
world”.
Addressing
the
audience,
Union
Minister
for
Information
and
Broadcasting,
Shri
Prakash
Javadekar
said
that
600
International
entries
and
190
Indian
entries
have
been
received
this
year,
reflecting
the
huge
importance
the
world
attaches
to
it,
said
the
Minister.
Shri
Javadekar
announced,
on
the
occasion
of
100th
birth
anniversary
of
Sheikh
Mujibur
Rahman,
the
two
countries
are
together
making
a
film
titled
Bangabandhu.
Veteran
Actor
and
Director
Biswajit
Chatterjee
has
been
conferred
Indian
Personality
of
the
Year
Award,
he
further
announced.
Shri
Jadavekar
said,
unlike
other
countries,
India
has
multiple
favourable
destinations
for
shooting.
Hence,
we
need
to
promote
'Shoot
in
India’,
stated
the
Minister.
In
the
context
of
Film
Bazaar,
the
Union
Minister
said,
film
is
not
only
a
source
of
entertainment,
but
also
a
big
market.
“Human
being
is
an
imaginative
being;
films
which
appeal
to
the
imagination
make
us
laugh,
cry
and
make
us
one,
united
in
the
story.
If
the
story
is
told
well,
the
film
will
become
popular.”
The
Minister
said
that
we
will
make
a
beginning
to
private
participation
in
film
festival,
from
52nd
IFFI.
He
said
that
the
51st
edition
of
IFFI
will
run
on
seven
screens,
and
lakhs
of
mobiles
and
TVs
and
will
reach
the
whole
world.
The
Chief
Minister
of
Goa
Shri
Pramod
Sawant
invited
Indian
and
global
film
makers
to
look
at
Goa
as
a
preferred
destination
for
film
making.
"The
annual
IFFI
gives
an
opportunity
to
members
of
film
fraternity
from
across
the
world
to
explore
the
jewel
from
the
west
coast
of
India",
he
said.
The
High
Commissioner
of
Bangladesh
to
India,
Shri
Mohammad
Imran
was
also
present
on
the
occasion.
Bangladesh
is
the
focus
country
of
the
festival
this
year.
Apart
from
the
recognition
of
the
creativity
and
ingenuity
of
the
film-makers
of
Bangladesh,
it
is
also
a
testimony
of
the
depth
of
relations
and
a
historic
bind
between
the
two
neighbouring
countries,
said
the
High
Commissioner.
“We
thank
the
Ministry
of
Information
and
Broadcasting,
Government
of
India,
for
organizing
this
festival
in
this
challenging
time.
It
shows
the
commitment
and
courage
you
have
to
face
and
overcome
the
challenging
situation
as
well
as
your
passion
and
love
for
arts
and
culture”,
he
further
said.
The
delegates
will
be
treated
to
ten
of
the
best
films
from
the
focus
country
Bangladesh,
showcasing
the
country’s
cinematic
excellence
and
contributions
to
the
world
of
cinema.
The
Lifetime
Achievement
in
the
51st
IFFI
has
been
given
to
Italian
cinematographer
Mr.
Vittorio
Storaro.
In
a
video
message,
Mr
Storaro
thanked
IFFI
for
recognizing
his
journey.
The
legendary
cinematographer
said
that
he
owes
the
incredible
visual
journey
he
had,
to
his
colleagues
and
great
directors
like
Bernardo
Bertolucci,
Francis
Coppola,
Carlos
Oliveira
and
Woody
Allen.
“They
led
me
in
a
special
way,
like
in
an
orchestra,
to
use
my
language
of
light”,
he
said.
In
a
word
of
advice
to
young
cinematographers,
he
said,
“Study,
research,
prepare
yourself.
Love
what
you
do,
only
if
you
love
and
believe
in
something,
you
can
make
it”.
“India
is
a
wonderful
universe
which
allows
us
to
continue
dreaming
day
by
day
since
everything
is
possible
in
India”,
said
Chairman
of
International
Jury,
Argentine
Film
Director
Pablo
Cesar,
in
a
video
message.
The
14th
Edition
of
NFDC
Film
Bazaar
was
also
virtually
launched
by
Union
Minister
Shri
Prakash
Javadekar
on
the
occasion.
This
NFDC
Film
Bazaar
will
be
held
in
a
hybrid
format
which
will
be
both
offline
and
online.
The
Film
Bazaar
will
be
held
virtually
but
it
will
include
all
sections
usually
held
in
previous
editions.
Film
Bazaar
is
the
largest
South
Asian
film
market.
It
encourages
creative
and
financial
collaboration
between
the
South
Asian
and
International
film
communities.
A
trailer
of
the
festival’s
opening
film
'Another
Round’
by
Danish
filmmaker
Thomas
Vinterberg
was
played
in
the
opening
ceremony.
“As
a
starting
point,
this
was
a
pure
celebration
of
alcohol,
but
it
grew
into
a
celebration
of
life”,
said
the
Director
in
a
video
message.
The
movie
is
Denmark’s
official
entry
to
the
Oscars
and
stars
Cannes
Best
Actor
Award
winner
Mads
Mikkelsen.
In
the
51st
IFFI,
126
films
from
60
countries
will
be
showcased
in
International
sections.
85
films
out
of
these
will
be
premiere
screenings,
including
7
World
Premieres,
6
International
Premieres,
22
Asian
Premieres
and
50
Indian
Premieres.
Masterclasses
and
In-conversation
sessions,
which
have
been
the
highlight
of
IFFI
over
the
years,
will
also
be
held
virtually.
Renowned
film
personalities
like
Shekhar
Kapur,
Priyadarshan,
Pablo
Cesar
(from
Argentina)
and
Prasanna
Vithanage
(from
Sri
Lanka)
will
be
sharing
their
valuable
experience
for
these
sessions.
A
retrospective
section
will
showcase
legendary
film-maker
Satyajit
Ray’s
popular
classics
like
Pather
Panchali,
Shatranj
Ke
Khilari,
Charulata,
Ghare
Baire
and
Sonar
Kella.
On
the
occasion
of
the
150th
Birth
Anniversary
of
the
father
of
Indian
Cinema,
four
films
by
Dadasaheb
Phalke
will
be
screened.
IFFI
will
also
pay
Homage
to
18
film
personalities
who
passed
away
in
the
previous
year.
This
includes
many
loved
personalities
like
Irrfan
Khan,
Rishi
Kapoor,
S.P
Balasubrahmanyam,
Soumitra
Chatterjee,
Sushant
Singh
Rajput
and
Basu
Chatterjee.
The
world
premiere
of
'Mehrunisa’
by
Sandeep
Kumar
will
take
place
mid-fest
in
IFFI.
Japanese
movie
'Wife
of
a
Spy’
directed
by
Kiyoshi
Kurosawa
will
bring
the
curtains
down
on
this
edition
of
the
festival.
Whereas
film
connoisseurs
can
enjoy
films
by
prominent
filmmakers
such
as
Pedro
Almodóvar
Caballero,
Ruben
Ostlund
and
Kim
Ki-duk,
delegates
will
also
have
the
opportunity
to
enjoy
seven
great
new
films
nominated
for
the
Best
Debut
Feature
Film
of
a
Director.
Apart
from
this,
ten
films
will
be
shown
as
part
of
the
ICFT-
UNESCO
Gandhi
Medal
competition,
selected
for
reflecting
Mahatma
Gandhi's
ideals
of
peace,
tolerance
and
non-violence.
Due
to
the
current
COVID
scenario,
many
Bollywood
celebrities
could
not
remain
physically
present
in
the
function.
Their
video
messages
brought
a
feel
of
their
virtual
presence
in
the
ceremony.
“I
congratulate
all
the
participants
of
the
51st
IFFI’
-
Anupam
Kher.
“What
an
amazing
way
to
kick-start
2021
by
celebrating
some
of
the
finest
cinematic
works
from
across
the
globe”
–
Ayushmann
Khurrana
“IFFI
is
something
we
all
film-enthusiasts
look
forward
to.
One
of
the
most
prestigious
festivals
in
the
world”
–
Anil
Kapoor
“What
better
way
to
kick-start
2021
than
by
celebrating
some
of
the
finest
cinematic
works
from
across
the
globe”
–
Madhuri
Dixit
“Congratulations
IFFI
on
bringing
in
your
51st
edition”
–
Ranveer
Singh
“Go
and
watch
some
great
films”
–
Siddhant
Chaturvedi
“I
am
so
glad
that
despite
the
pandemic
and
the
trials
the
year
has
put
us
through,
IFFI
has
been
held
with
all
safety
precautions
put
in
place”
–
Vidya
Balan
“It
has
become
abundantly
clear
that
the
internet
is
changing
the
way
in
which
people
experience
watching
movies.
I
am
sure
the
Goa
film
festival
will
explore
reinvent
or
reframe
the
film
festival
experience
itself.
I
see
such
online
festivals
becoming
popular
as
being
a
way
of
building
up
a
community.
This,
perhaps,
will
be
the
new
norm
of
interacting
with
film
festivals,
especially
with
the
film-makers,
actors
and
technicians
from
around
the
globe.”
–
Mohan
Lal
Festival
Director
Shri
Chaitanya
Prasad
said:
“The
51st
edition
has
written
a
new
narrative
where
other
film
festivals
in
the
world
will
get
a
new
template
of
excellence.
Referring
to
Resurgent
India,
Inspirational
India
and
the
idea
of
New
India,
we
have
positioned
this
festival
through
the
medium
of
films.
This
festival
has
taught
us
how
to
weave
content
with
technology;
we
are
extremely
happy
that
we
have
come
up
with
a
hybrid
festival,
the
next
few
days
are
going
to
set
the
standards
for
other
film
festivals.”
In
her
welcome
address,
Additional
Secretary,
Ministry
of
Information
&
Broadcasting
Smt
Neerja
Shekhar
said,
we
remain
committed
to
further
promote
the
film
sector
in
the
country
and
look
forward
towards
actively
promoting
the
AVGC
sector
as
well.
Chief
Secretary
of
Goa
Shri
Shri
Puneet
Kumar;
MD-Entertainment
Society
of
Goa,
Shri
Amit
Satija;
Secretary-General
of
Film
Federation
of
India
and
IFFI
Screening
Committee
Member,
Shri
Ravi
Kottarakara;
IFFI
Festival
Director,
Shri
Chaitanya
Prasad
were
also
present
amongst
the
senior
functionaries
of
the
Government
of
India.
The
cultural
performances
in
the
opening
ceremony
specially
focussed
on
the
local
folk
culture
and
music
of
Goa
-
a
place
that
has
been
home
to
IFFI
since
2004.