Panaji: The 42nd International Film Festival of India (IFFI), with its share of laurels and controversies, is all set to come to a close here tommorow with the screening of French director Luc Besson’s The Lady based on veteran Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s life.
The 11-day festival, flagged off by Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan will end with Besson and Hollywood actress Michelle Yeoh adding glamour to the closing ceremony.
“This edition has been far more organised than previous years in terms of content. It has gone global with French directors Luc Besson, Bertrand Tavernier and Australian director Phil Noyce attending it,” IFFI director Shankar Mohan told PTI.
The festival was also technologically more advanced this year with films in 3-D and animation being exhibited.
The fest had a few hiccups too. Brazilian Director Oscar Maron Filho’s passed away here after a fatal cardiac arrest while speaking at the Open Forum. He was here for the Soccer package, which unfolded as a Goa-friendly initiative but end with a poor response at at the Campal ground.
The issue of Mullaperiyar dam in Kerala also made its presence felt at the fest with filmmakers and artistes from the state, in support of the issue getting into a verbal clash with Tamil Nadu delegates who launched a counter protest.
Besides, the opponents of English as medium of instruction at elementary education in Goa demonstrated through innovative ‘black carpet’ near the festival.
Also, there were protests by Goa Church groups condemning Central and state government for not curtailing IFFI on December 2 and instead holding it till December 3, the day of feast of St Francis Xavier.
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti forced the organisers to postpone the screening of legendary painter M F Hussain’s 15-minute documentary Through the Eyes of Painter in the homage section. It was finally screened amidst heavy security at Kala Academy.
Actor R Madhavan was the casualty of organisational mess as he had to return from the gate in absence of a pass. He was at the venue to cheer up his 3 Idiots co-star Omi Vaidya for the screening of his documentary Big in Bollywood.
“In the next edition, we will try to involve the local filmmakers more in the festival,” said Mohan. (PTI)