Squabbles over IFFI should stop: Goa chief minister

Panaji, Sep 22 (IANS) Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat Wednesday said squabbling between the state and central government authorities over holding the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) needs to stop.

The run-up to the IFFI, which is being held in Goa over the last several years, has witnessed squabbles between Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), a state government agency and the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF), a central government agency over issues related to defining scope of work for the festival.

'The DFF and ESG will further work in a more homogeneous manner because this is the country's international film festival and under no circumstances do we want to give an impression that the DGG and ESG are working in different directions,' Kamat told reporters, a day after a meeting with union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni.

'We have discussed the draft memorandum with the ministry (IB) in detail and Ambika Soni has accepted all our suggestions,' Kamat said.

Kamat also said that the ESG would curate one country focus, a foreign perspective, operate the short film centre, etc. as part of its scope of work.

The 11-day film festival gets underway in Panaji on Nov 22.