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PANAJI:
Goa is well on its way to building a film city and will be adding
at least two multiplexes and a convention centre over the next two
years in Panaji which plays host to the International Film Festival
of India.
This
was announced by Vishnu Surya Wagh, Chairman of the Kala Academy
and Vice Chairman of the Entertainment Society of Goa, at the inauguration
of the Open Forum at the Festival venue. The Open Forum has been
organised by the Federation of Film Societies of India with the
Indian Documentaries Producers Association with the cooperation
of the IFFI Secretariat and the ESG.
Referring
to local criticism about hosting a Festival at a time when the state
was facing an economy crunch, he said there was need to develop
cinema as an alternate business which could bring in as much revenue
as other businesses did.
Wagh,
who is an MLA, said the state government was in the process of
consulting film personalities to shortlist a suitable place for
a film city. He said it was unfortunate that filmmakers who came
to Goa to shoot often had to bring their own equipment as there
was no infrastructure.
However,
he said Goa recently won the Cinemascapes award for the Best Film
Destination in India.
Referring
to ESG, he said the Society had been set up to facilitate IFFI
to hold the Festival here after the decision to make this the
permanent venue.
IFFI
Director Shankar Mohan said the entire world was moving towards
digital technology and therefore some films had been screened
only at Kala Academy and it was not possible to re-screen them
elsewhere. This had been done to prevent theft of copyright and
prevent video piracy. He said 60 per cent of the films here were
in DCP, which meant that reels were not available and passwords
were needed to screen these films.
He
said the Festival this year had seen tremendous vibrancy and a
steep jump in the number of delegates. The Open Forum had now
moved to a greater purpose and focus. Each section had its own
genre, he added.
IDPA
President Mike Pandey welcomed the idea of a film city in Goa
and said this would help the growth of better cinema.
FFSI
President Kiran Shantaram and Sudhir Nandgaonkar also spoke at
the forum which will be held daily till 29 November at 1.30 pm
in the area outside Inox.
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