49th IFFI to showcase 212 films, Israel in focus

The 49th International The 49th International  Film Festival of India  (IFFI), to be held in Goa from November 20-28, will showcase 212 films from over 68 countries, reflecting diversity. Israel will be the country of focus at the gala, where there will be a retrospective section of Ingmar Bergman, marking 100 years of the filmmaker’s birth.The International Competition section of IFFI this year has 15 films, out of which 3 are Indian. The competition section represents films produced and co-produced by 22 countries, according to a PIB statement.The Festival Kaleidoscope section carries 20 critically acclaimed international films that have been to major film festivals and majority of them being multiple award winners, while the World Panorama segment has 67 films which are specially curated for the festival. This includes 4 World Premieres, 2 International Premieres, 15 Asia Premieres and 60 India Premieres.Also, this year the World Panorama section presents 15 films which are Oscar submissions from respective countries.Bergman’s retrospective section will have a line-up of seven of his career-best films. A documentary on Bergman titled “Bergman Island”, which presents the master behind the camera, is one of the movies.A retrospective of films of the recipient of the most prestigious film award of the Country, Dadasaheb Phalke Award is showcased during IFFI. This year, actor Vinod Khanna received the award posthumously. IFFI will be showcasing some of his best films including Achanak, Lekin and Amar Akbar Anthony.IFFI will open with the World Premiere of The Aspern Papers, which tells a story of obsession, grandeur lost and dreams of Byronic adventures. Its star cast, including actors Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Joely Richardson, Julia Robins, Morgane Polanski and Nicolas Hau, apart from director Julien Landais will be a part of the delegation at the gala. As for the focus country package, ten films in collaboration with the Consulate General of Israel in Mumbai have been selected for the country focus package. Important celebrities from Israel including the famous Israeli actor Alon Aboutboul, will be a special guest. Actor Dan Wolman from Israel will be honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award. (IANS)