The powers that be are trying to avoid a repetition of 2004. They have decided to shift the beach screening from Miramar to Caranzalem. There is also a move to provide IFFI with a Goan flavour, writes Ervell E. Menezes

Goa, permanent venue for IFFI, has much going for it

With Goa being made the permanent venue for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), the forthcoming Filmfest or IFFI 2005 should learn from the mistakes of its predecessor, which was more of a tamasha than anything else. And it seems that the powers that be are willing to put in the correctives.

For one thing, they have decided to shift the beach screening from Miramar to Caranzalem and this will help reduce the congestion and traffic jams in Panjim city. This was a major problem at IFFI 2004. The Panjimites, already faced with a problem of garbage disposal, have made it clear to the authorities that they don’t need a repetition of 2004.

Chief Minister Pratapsing Rane seems keen on keeping a low profile unlike his earlier counterpart Manohar Parrikar who was host, door-keeper, all rolled into one. He believes in delegating work, though some feel that the pace is rather slow. But at least he is taking the people with him, not taking a confrontation course like his predecessor.

"We will have a gala dinner, I will not call it the Chief Minister’s dinner," Rane said in an exclusive interview in an obvious dig at his counterpart and "no dinners on new bridges, there are plenty of other facilities available."

There would also be no issuing of parallel passes as was the case last year by the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) and this was reiterated by its CEO Sanjit Rodrigues. "As cinemas were going empty we decided to do so," Rodrigues said but this year he assured it would not happen. The reason for last year’s misdemeanour was a divide between the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) and the ESG but this year they will see that it does not recur. They have to work a rapprochement and sinking of their respective egos.

With some of the local cinemas screening festival films (this was not done last year), there will be a dispersal of crowds. But to date only one cinema, Osia in Margao, has been confirmed. The Film Market too can be shifted to a venue outside the festival premises as this would make it more accessible to the buyers. Last year it was a major flop. The Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), which did the honours last year, will have to do a much better job this time. But are they equipped with the expertise?

Providing buses and rickshaws for the delegates to move from the Kala Academy to the Inox multiplex and the IFFI office surely helped last year. Hope it is continued this year with better streamlining. Towards the end last year, there was a mad rush. Also, the canteen rates at Inox have to be reduced drastically. This is a common malaise at all multiplexes. If they are given a government subsidy to set up these units and they make up by renting out space to shops, why should they even resort to "highway robbery" on the refreshments, if one could call it that?

Rane also spoke of providing IFFI with a Goan flavour as Goa was a major tourist destination. There would be folk dances and music but there will also be the Fontainhas Art Festival (from November 26 for a week) that is to coincide with IFFI. Fontainhas is a Latin quarter of Panjim with long, narrow lanes and quaint houses like those in the villages of Bandra or Girgaum and Mathapacardy, and artists will display their work in these houses. It is sure to be a major attraction for those attending the festival.

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