Shoe-string, pocket-money budget films get toehold at IFFI

Panaji, Nov 18 (IANS) Films shot on mobile phones oo shoe-string budgets, or with as little as pocket money given to school and college students, will now get a platform at the 41st International Film Festival of India (IFFI), a festival organiser said Thursday.

'The aim of Chhota Cinema is to get students who make extremely low-budget films on the IFFI canvas. It's a great platform for those who have virtually no resources. Chhota Cimena is their chance to become big,' Janardhan Bhandari, managing director of Mandovi Entertainment, said at a press conference here.

Mandovi Entertainment is a joint host of the Chhota Cimena segment along with the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), a state government-run society which oversees the logistics of the IFFI, starting this year Nov 22.

'These films may have small budgets, but very often the quality is unmistakable. It gives youngsters a great chance to showcase their talent,' Bhandari said.

'There will be 22 films in five minutes section, 15 films in 15 minutes section and 18 films in 30 minutes section in the 'Chhota Cimena' segment,' he added.