Actor Kamal Haasan is expected to attend the film festival.
Panaji:
The 44th edition of InternationalFilm Festival of India (IFFI) that kicks off tomorrow herewill screen 15 Oscar-nominated films from world over.
"We will be screening 15 Oscar nominated movies thistime," film festival director Shankar Mohan said.Since 2011, the films that have won award in IFFIcompetition section go on to win the Academy award, like Lifeof Pi, Mohan said.
Veteran actress Waheeda Rehman would be conferred theinaugural Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality ofthe Year at the festival.
The lifetime achievement award would be given to Czechfilmmaker Jiri Menzel during the inauguration tomorrow.
Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon will be the chiefguest for the inaugural function, which will be attended byUnion Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari,veteran actors including Kamal Haasan and Rekha, singer AshaBhonsle and Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will also be presentas a guest for the inaugural event.
"It is a conscious decision to have an internationalpersonality for the inaugural function," he said, adding thatGoan fashion designer Wendell Rodricks will be designing thegown for Sarandon, which she will wear for the inauguration.
The ten day-long event will have 327 films, 80 per cent ofwhich are on the digital format, Mohan said.
The competition section has 15 films, of which two areIndian, including Coffin Maker by Veena Bakshi.
The festival, which will be held across two venues,Macquiniz Palace and Kala Academy, will have a major focus onthe north eastern states.
The films, art and culture from all the eight northeastern states would be showcased during the event, he said.
A contingent of 120 folk dancers from across India,who are sponsored by Union Ministry of Culture, will also bein Goa performing on the sidelines of the festival venue.
IFFI 2013 will also have a 'Soul of India' section,which was conceived last year, Mohan added.
"We will be screening 15 Oscar nominated movies thistime," film festival director Shankar Mohan said.Since 2011, the films that have won award in IFFIcompetition section go on to win the Academy award, like Lifeof Pi, Mohan said.
Veteran actress Waheeda Rehman would be conferred theinaugural Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality ofthe Year at the festival.
The lifetime achievement award would be given to Czechfilmmaker Jiri Menzel during the inauguration tomorrow.
Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon will be the chiefguest for the inaugural function, which will be attended byUnion Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari,veteran actors including Kamal Haasan and Rekha, singer AshaBhonsle and Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will also be presentas a guest for the inaugural event.
"It is a conscious decision to have an internationalpersonality for the inaugural function," he said, adding thatGoan fashion designer Wendell Rodricks will be designing thegown for Sarandon, which she will wear for the inauguration.
The ten day-long event will have 327 films, 80 per cent ofwhich are on the digital format, Mohan said.
The competition section has 15 films, of which two areIndian, including Coffin Maker by Veena Bakshi.
The festival, which will be held across two venues,Macquiniz Palace and Kala Academy, will have a major focus onthe north eastern states.
The films, art and culture from all the eight northeastern states would be showcased during the event, he said.
A contingent of 120 folk dancers from across India,who are sponsored by Union Ministry of Culture, will also bein Goa performing on the sidelines of the festival venue.
IFFI 2013 will also have a 'Soul of India' section,which was conceived last year, Mohan added.
