NEW DELHI: In a bid to further broadbase the relevance of international film fests held in India, the Directorate of Film Festival (DFF) has decided that FM radio channels would be used to propagate information about the 34 International film festival of India to be held here from 9 -19 October.
At a press conference, held on 1 October, DFF head Neelam Kapur told journalists: “There are various ways of popularising and propagating about the film festival. Keeping pace with the changing times, we have decided to use the FM radio channels this year wherein interviews, information and details about other activities would be aired on the FM channels as it’s also a popular medium amongst people.”
With films being targeted as a big revenue earner for the country, India’s information and broadcasting ministry has sanctioned a budget of Rs 16 million. The state government of National capital territory of Delhi will bear the cost incurred on hotel accommodation, domestic air travel, international air travel, outdoor publicity and hiring of transport.
For the film aficionados, here’s some details about the 34 IFFI where the topics for seminars also include the effect changing technology has had on the process of film making.
FESTIVAL VENUE
The festival offices will be located within the Siri Fort Complex, New Delhi.
Theatre-wise details are given below:
THEATRES
For Press & Delegates
1. SIRI FORT – I Cinema of the World
2. SIRI FORT – II Indian Panorama / Asian Competition/Indian Retro
3. SIRI FORT – III Foreign Retrospective / Indian Panorama (N/ Features)
4. SIRI FORT- IV Market Screening/Spill Over of some Retros For Public: (i) ANUPAM – PVR (2) (ii) ANUPAM – PVR (3) (iii) ANUPAM – PVR (4)
FESTIVAL LOGO AND POSTER
The festival logo is based on the National bird Peacock and the posters on display for this year have been designed by DAVP. It maintains the essential theme of the festival, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakom (The whole world is one family). The IFFI poster gives an impression of a peacock dancing on the globe, heralding the festive mood.
1. INAUGURAL FUNCTION
The Inaugural Function of the 34 International Film Festival of India (IFFI 2003) will be held on the evening of 9 October 2003 at Siri Fort Auditorium – I, New Delhi. The chief guest will be the deputy prime minister L K Advani and the guest of honour will be Kamal Hassan, Kareena Kapoor will be the Thali girl.
2.ASIAN COMPETITION SECTION
The highlight of this festival would be the Asian Competition Section. This will present the latest cinematic trends in Asia and would be screened before an International Jury of five members. An Asian Director will give the Golden Peacock award for the ‘best film’ while the Silver Peacock will be given to the most promising Asian Director. A ‘special jury’ award will be given to the director of a film for his individual artistic contribution. This section will consist of attractive cash prize of Rs 500,000 (Golden Peacock), Rs 250,000 (Silver Peacock) and Rs 250,000 (Special Jury Award) respectively, a medal and a certificate.
3. CINEMA OF THE WORLD
About 55 films from around 40 countries, made in the last two years, will be presented in this section. These include films, which have won international awards or have earned critical acclaim.
4. RETROSPECTIVES/ COUNTRY FOCUS / WORKSHOP
This section will include various packages of films that will try to reflect the rich cultural flavors arising from the social milieus of different countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, & South America.
1. Retrospective of films by Lars Von Trier.
2. Retrospective of Martin Karmitz
3. Country focus on Switzerland.
4. Seminar on Literature & Cinema.
5. Technical Retro.
5. INDIAN PANORAMA
18 feature and 13 non-feature Indian films selected by a selection panel of eminent film personalities under Indian Panorama scheme will be screened under this section.
6. MAINSTREAM INDIAN CINEMA
12 popular Indian films released during 2002 will be screened during the Festival.
7. INDIAN RETROSPECTIVE/ HOMAGE
A total of 11 feature films directed & produced by B R Chopra and K S Sethumadhavan representing social issues in Indian cinema would be presented. Special homage will be paid to the actress Leela Chitnis who passed away recently.
8. DELEGATES
As in the past about 3000 delegates, foreign and Indian are likely to be registered for the festival. The foreign delegates would include film personalities, directors, actors, actresses, producers and representatives of film organizations, International film festival directors and selectors and journalists.
9. PRESS RELATIONS
As in previous years, films journalists and critics from all over the country will be accredited to the festival. An accreditation committee headed by the principal information officer to the government of India will go through the applications and select critics for accreditation. A fully equipped media centre will be set up at Siri Fort.
10. SEMINARS
It is proposed to have two seminars on the subjects viz.
(1) Seminar by Indian Organisation and Mass Communication, FFI & FFSI titled. “Intellectual & Property Theft”
(2) Seminar by FFSI titled “Literature and Cinema”.
11. OPEN FORUM
The Federation of Film Societies of India (in the city where the festival will held) will organise an open forum for initiating a dialogue between filmmakers, critics and delegates.
12. BUDGET The Ministry has sanctioned a budget of Rs. 16 million. The State Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi will provide hotel accommodation, domestic air travel, international air travel, outdoor publicity and hiring of transport.
Tag: B.R. Chopra
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Radio FM to propogate International Film Festival
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Apsara FPGI Awards finale on 29 May
MUMBAI: The first Apsara Film Producers Guild Awards, FPGI, will announce its winners on Saturday, 29 May 2004.
Auditors Pricewaterhouse Coopers, who have audited the prestigious Oscars for the past 68 years, has taken off to a good start by receiving responses from both the film and TV industry alike.
The first round of short listing the entries is underway. The screenings of the entries will commence shortly and the nominations are slated to be announced on 6 May 2004 at a ceremony in Mumbai, confirms a press release.
The Film Producers Guild of India has set up a separate Apsara Awards Desk. The 50-year old guild with over 160 members, constituting the powerful and influencing luminaries in its sector ensures credibility and transparency of the awards.
Secretary general of the Guild Supran Sen says, “The seriousness and commitment of the Guild was expressed by the support given by the entire industry. It was a touching moment to see great film makers like Ramanand Sagar, B.R. Chopra, Subhash Ghai and even the younger generation like Karan and Rohan amongst them all.”
The personalities constituting the selection committee for the Apsara FPGI Awards includes the director of the awards, Ramesh Sippy, the president of FPGI, Amit Khanna and the chairman of the jury across each of the 4 categories — Shekhar Kapur for the film awards, Govind Nihalani, for the technical awards, Ronnie Screwvala for the television awards and Yash Chopra, who along with Amit Khanna, would head the special award category.
Film Producers Guild of India president Amit Khanna says, “It is indeed a distinguished honour for artists to be recognized by their own peers through awards that are credible, transparent, objective and completely unbiased, which has been the prime objective behind instituting the first Apsara Film Producers Guild Awards. We shall be leaving no stone unturned to ensure that through these awards we establish a standard that parallels the world’s best.”
Guild member Subhas Ghai says, “Indian entertainment is scaling new heights. It’s time to honour talent and who better than industry stalwarts to do it. The Apsara will don an extremely prominent mantle in every winner’s life as this is an award that truly recognises achievement.”
On the other hand, TV Awards Committee chairman and Guild member Ronnie Screwvala says, “Film and television together is the all encompassing future of the Indian entertainment industry. This first step in that direction is going to pave the way for enriching and motivating more quality products for the Indian viewers.”
A special rule booklet has been published by the Guild outlining the format and the eligibility criteria. All films and television programmes released between 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 are eligible for the awards, says the release.
The winners will be voted by the cast of a ballot by all the 160 members of the Guild and not by a viewers’ choice poll. Members including Aamir Khan, Shyam Benegal, Amitabh Bachchan, Ashutosh Gowarikar and Kamal Barjatiya, will be participating in the voting process.
A total of 36 categories, including 23 from cinema and 13 from television, both fiction and non-fiction, will be honoured at the grand finale.