IFFI to showcase retrospective of animation industry

New Delhi, Nov 16 (IANS) The 40th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), to be held in Panaji, Goa from Nov 23, will for the first time showcase a retrospective of the Indian animation industry.

IFFI is being organised by the directorate of film festivals, ministry of information and broadcasting in collaboration with the government of Goa and the Indian film industry with Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) as its partner in hosting the festival in Goa since 2004.

'We will showcase a retrospective of the entire Indian animation industry for the first time from its conception. A workshop will be held for the same by leading Indian animation experts,' Manoj Srivastava, CEO, ESG, told IANS here Monday evening.

This year IFFI is introducing 'Spoof Cinema' where films from Malegaon (Maharashtra) like 'Malegaon Ke Sholay' and 'Gabbar Bhai MBBS' will be screened.

Noted lyricist Gulzar will also hold a workshop on script writing while legendary actor Sir Ben Kingsley will take a workshop on acting Nov 29.

The gala will also commemorate 75 years of Assam cinema, apart from showcasing a retrospective of Gurinder Chadha's films and show anti-war films like 'Haqeeqat' to promote peace.

Homage will also be paid to film personalities who passed away since last year like Shakti Samanta, Feroz Khan, Prakash Mehra, and Leela Naidu, among others.

Some of the movies that are going to premiere at the event are 'Red Alert - The War Within', 'Shah Rukh Bola Khoobsurat Hai Tu!', 'Once Again', 'God Lives in the Himalayas', etc.

As many as 55 films from 45 countries will be showcased in the 'world cinema' section while there are 13 films in the 'international competition' with two Indian films from the panorama section - which has 26 feature and 21 non-feature films.

While Latin America is the focus in the 'continent films section' this time, 10 digital films will also be screened. Four films made by NRIs will also have a showing.

The festival will also celebrate the golden jubilee of Asha Parekh, Sharmila Tagore and Soumitra Chatterjee for their completion of 50 years in Indian cinema by screening two films of each celebrity.

Documentaries made by the Film Division as tributes to musicians like Ustad Allauddin Khan, Manna Dey, Mohd. Rafi and Pandit Jasraj, etc will also be screened.

There will also be a mid-festival fashion show curated by designer Neeta Lulla that will follow a discussion on the subject of fashion in Indian cinema.

Other lecture and discussions include one on book adaptations in Indian cinema.

This year there are 307 short films for both buyers and viewers at the festival which will conclude Dec 3.