Pune Film festival from 6 January

Pune Film festival from 6 January

MUMBAI: The ninth Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) 2010 to be held between 6 to 13 January will screen more than 150 Indian and international films in 11 screens. It will also celebrate five decades of the state of Maharashtra and Marathi cinema.

Of the 350 world films for competition, 14 films have been shortlisted by the jury with seven Marathi films in the competition.

Director of the festival Dr Jabbar Patel and Sabina Sanghvi, vice chairperson of the PIFF, revealed that Mughal-e-Azam made 50 years ago and other period films made in different languages of the country over the years would be screened during the festival. A special symposium has been organised on period or historic films on the occasion.

PIFF will have films in various categories, which will be competing for awards in the world, Marathi and student competition sections. "Other sections are Country Focus, Cinema of the World, Director Focus, Retrospectives, Tributes and Indian Cinema. The festival will also showcase the work of those who have received lifetime achievement awards," Patel disclosed.

Japan is the country in focus and 32 Japanese films and eight animation films from the country will be screened at the festival.