FOR me in Goa it is the fragrant blooming akash neems in capital city Panaji which herald the news that the International Film Festival of India is on its way anew! It’s the time to make time to watch at least some of the best films of the world… while the heady scent of the silvery white tubular flowers fall of the akash neem fall in cascades to create these haloes on the pavements lining the Campal promenade.
Here are the heritage buildings of the Entertainment Society of Goa along with the new INOX block with its four auditoriums playing a key role in screening the best films of the world for ten days. And the delegates and tourists too come from around the world to see the films on the big screen as well on OTT platforms of up to date technology. We know what a treat IFFI is in our rapidly shrinking small screen world, most film connoisseurs of old still think the grand films of old are worth watching only the big silver screens of old! I do! No other way to see the great films which recount the stories of our civilisation.
The Union Ministry’s eloquent Anurag Thakur has already announced that India’s film industry ranks fifth in the market globally. India’s media and entertainment industry which has been growing and transforming into ever new technology driven platforms since its inception in 1952 is a force to reckon with. It is a big deal, never mind that today most privileged folk prefer to catch Netflix films on their phone or home film screens – as seasoned politician and MLA of Siolim, also the new IFFI chairperson for this year, Delilah Lobo, shared off the cuff at a media meet at the ESG offices on Thursday, November 9. The down to earth Delilah Lobo was keen on solving the problems of Goa’s local media and this is welcome for with all the national media in town Goa’s media kind of gets marginalised with step-motherly treatment oftentimes. Both for media and delegates transportation to the various IFFI venues from Porvorim to the Kadamba plateau is a hassle, never mind the luxury cars, buses and rikshaws harnessed for special VIP as also media duties.
For a moment it makes one feel nostalgically that film festivals have become meaningless, when the entire act of film watching on OTT has become so personal now! So why all the extravagant dramabaazi pushing IFFI at public expense, when funds are needed for far more important reasons?
As usual, money, money, honey drives the powers-that-be, although nobody is clear where the money is coming from in an India slipping anew BPL or below poverty level on the index of development; yes, in India and globally seeing how the world is currently being traumatised by the Ukraine war and never ending Israel-Palestine conflict spiralling into a vortex of hellish scenarios with all the justifications making the rounds from US all the way to China. The religious wars are raising their devilish horns with ever fresh news coming in of the butchering of humanity going on and the debates raging to and fro between pro- and anti-Israel lobbies.
THE question arises. Should one escape on variously numbered clouds of illusions and delusions and participate in the 54th IFFI in India and the 19th edition in Goa with its tourist destination charms?! Goa has become a permanent venue for the international film festival, and we have another ten days or so to go. IFFI is on fast forward mode currently as it readies to roll out more red and green carpet events and gala celebrations with some iconic bigwigs of cinema heading to Goa.
The good news is one of Panaji’s famous entertainment venues, the Kala Academy, under wraps for renovation for some years, has finally opened its doors to the people – here is undoubtedly the most popular auditorium for most delegates, the much-loved Dinanath Mangeskar Auditorium. Its surrounding walls originally illustrated by the late renowned Goan artist Mario da Miranda but we are not sure if the new renovations have retained these illustrations in the latest make-over!
THIS year’s IFFI highlights? The 54th IFFI will see the usual bonanza of film screenings – something like 270 films from around the world, the International Section reportedly will see 198 films, 13 world premiers, 62 Asian premiers, Indian premiers (2,926 entries, breaking a record), films from 105 countries. The Indian Panorama will have 24 feature films, 20 non-feature films, with opening film from India in Malayalam – “Aatam’ – and in the non-feature section there’s “Andro Dreams” from Manipur.
IFFI’S opening film is “Catching Dust” a drama thriller from the UK; and closing film is “The Featherhead”(an autobiographic sports film). Coming to who the International Jury is this year: Filmaker extraordinary Shekar Kapur, Jose Luis Alcaine, Jerome Paillard, Catharine Dussart, Helen Leake.
All this and much more. Taking a bow this year for branding and designing IFFI 2003 is the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. This is to say I’m taking a break from life to see some films, I deserve this break. As a seasoned and veteran IFFI-goer I may say I’ve grown old with IFFI in Goa over the last 19 years and am just a film lover full of gratitude, for all the education and inspirational growing up IFFI offers aam aadmi in need of reasons to continue the good fight of life and living.
As in the past, so in the present too! I don’t think we can ever outgrow films. They make life worth living if only for one more time as long as one is alive. From me it is welcome IFFI, one more time, filmi duniya!
ON that note it’s avjo, selamat datang, poiteverem, au revoir, arrivedecci, hasta la vista and vachun yeta here for now.

—Mme Butterfly