The 45^th edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) takes off tomorrow at Goa amidst great fanfare and with a gala show of music and dance being held from 20th to 30th November, 2014. The 11-dayfestival will provide a common platform for the cinematography of the world to project the excellence  of the film art; contributing to the understanding and appreciation of film cultures of different nations in the  context of their social and cultural ethos; and promoting friendship and co- operation among people of the world.  The 2014 edition of the Festival is 11^th in a row at Goa beginning with 35th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in November 2004 in the State.

Speaking to the media at the press conference Director Festival Shri Shankar Mohan informed that Amitabh Bachchan along with his wife Jaya Bachchan will be the Chief Guest at the opening ceremony while,JeonSoo-il (South Korea)Mohsen Makhmalbaf(Iran)and Polish film maker KrzysztofZanussi would be the Guests of Honour. Actor AnupamKher and RaveenaTandon will compere the programme.The other celebrities to be present include ShekharKapur,SatishKaushik, and RoopaGanguli.

ShriRajnikant would be bestowed with Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year. The award was instituted last year to commemorate 100 years of Indian Cinema. Chinese Film maker Wong KarWai would receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. “The President” directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf (Iran) will be the opening film while the festival will close with “The Grandmaster” by Wong KarWai (China).

China is the focus country for the festival. IFFI 2014 would screen 178 films from 79 countries across different categories which include World Cinema (61 films), Master-strokes (11 films), Festival Kaleidoscope (20 films), Soul of Asia (7 films), Documentaries (6 films), Animated Films (6 films). Besides, Indian Panorama section would include 26 Feature and 15 Non-Feature Films. North-East being the focus region of the festival, IFFI 2014 would be showcasing 7 films from North Eastern part of India. Regional cinema would also be an integral part of the festival.Retrospective sections on Gulzar and JahnuBaruah, Special Homage films on Richard Attenborough, Robin Williams, ZohraSehgal, SuchitraSen, and special tribute to Farooq Sheikh would be other attractions this year. A special section of films that focus on dance, personality based retrospectives, and Masterclasses/workshopswould also form a part of IFFI 2014. 

The new attraction is open air Screening of Indian filmsat Campal Football Ground for the general public free of cost on first come first basis. The screening will open with film “Gandhi” on 21^st November,2014 at 7.30 P.M and will show an Indian film every day at the same time and venue till 27^th November,2014.

Besides the world premieres, IFFI 2014 offers a repertoire of activities, such as The Film Bazar, 3D Films, Dinners, Master classes, Stalls and Open-Air Screenings for the delegates.

****

AT/PV/DB