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Keeping that in mind, these companies among many others, are participating
in the Film Bazaar, which was inaugurated today (10 October) at
the 34th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The festival
itself opened yesterday (9 October) with lukewarm participation
from the media and entertainment industry folks.
According to a senior official of Prasar Bharati, film festivals
like the IFFI are good places not only to buy software for television
channels, but also to sell to foreign companies hungry for entertainment
software featuring actors from big and small screen.
However, it has to be seen if the likes of Zee and Prasar Bharati
- which oversees the functioning of Doordarshan and All India Radio
(AIR) - will be successful in carrying out business deals at the
34th IFFI. It is doubtful for mega deals to happen, simply because
the ongoing IFFI is too government and bureaucracy-dominated.
The intentions may be honest, but the hype and hoopla that is generally
associated with film festivals - which are increasingly becoming
a meeting ground for conduction business worldover - was missing
from IFFI that opened here yesterday. Even the function that preceded
the festival was clearly dominated by the government rather than
the industry!
Kicking off at a time when film festivals at Cannes and Venice
are making its presence, IFFI is already proving to be a pale shadow.
The consolation that the organisers of the 34th IFFI can take is
that Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Federation of
Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) are participating
at the Film Bazaar.
Inaugurating of the Film Bazaar, Information and Broadcasting minister
Ravi Shankar Prasad said, the beginning of the Bazaar has been very
encouraging and there was a "lot of excitement among the foreign
participants". He added, ''The Indian entertainment sector
is growing and I am happy about the response to the Bazaar this
year.''
The two business chambers put up stalls at the Bazaar, which also
has participation from countries like Uzbekistan and Mauritius.
Goa, the host of IFFI from next year onwards, has also put up a
special stall depicting its scenic beauty and the picturesque beaches.
Amongst the 24 companies that have put up stalls at the Bazaar
are the Children Film Society of India (CFSI), which is now headed
by film star Raveena Tandon; Eros Multimedia Pvt Ltd; India's pubcaster
Prasar Bharti; National Film Development Corporation (NFDC); Films
Division; India Film Exporters Association; Madhu Entertainment
and IN2 Info India.
Is Goa ready to be fest venue?
Meanwhile, raising doubts about the IFFI moving to Goa next
year, Prasad today said the government was still open to the idea
of hosting the fest at some other place if Goa is not ready by next
October, according to report put out by the United News of India
(UNI).
''I can only say we are flexible about next year. But Goa will
definitely be the hosting state for IFFI from 2005 onwards,'' Prasad
told reporters after inaugurating the Film Bazaar as part of the
ongoing 34th IFFI, the UNI report stated.
However, the minister did not disclose the alternative venue the
government was considering in case Goa was not ready by next year.
''That we have to see,'' he replied, when asked if the festival
could again be held in Delhi next year.
However, the government had earlier already announced that Goa
will become the permanent venue for IFFI from next year and this
will be the last time IFFI was being held in Delhi.
Goa Tourism has even put up a special stall at the Film Bazaar
to introduce the venue to the delegates.
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