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The highlight of this year's event is the Chinese film, Warriors
of Heaven & Earth which will inaugurate the festival. The music
for the film has been composed by noted musician A R Rehman. Principal
secretary, cultural affairs, Maharashtra government, Govind Swaroop
says the festival would not have been possible without the support
provided by Star Movies that has tied up with the festival for the
third time in a row. "It is their love of good movies that brings
them in each year", says Swaroop, pointing out that the association
does not proffer any commercial gain for the channel.
The festival will be inaugurated on Thursday by Maharashtra chief
minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and actor-director Aparna Sen will
be the guest of honour. Filmmakers Vijay Anand and veteran composer
Naushad Ali will be felicitated for their contribution to Indian
cinema with Lifetime Achievement Award and Outstanding Contribution
to Film Music Award respectively. 80 films from 28 countries will
be screened in this 7-day international event.
Manish Jha's Matrubhoomi, which won the FIPRESCI Award at this
year's Cannes Film Festival will be the closing film of the Festival
on 27 November 2003.
For the first time at the festival, a competition for Indian Feature
Films will be held for which 13 entries have already been received,
according to Swaroop. This jury will be headed by veteran writer
Vijay Tendulkar. The other members of the jury will come from France,
Italy & Switzerland.
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