Goa is all set to host the 52nd edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) from November 20 to 28, 2021. The eight-day film gala festival aims to showcase the excellence of film art and filmmakers from all over the world while boosting creativity and cultural exchange.
This year's edition will have over 300 screenings with 12 world premieres, 7 international premieres, 26 Asia premieres and about 64 India premieres. "IFFI had received 624 films from 95 countries this time, up from 69 nations in the previous edition," IFFI Director Chaitanya Prasad said on Thursday, November 18.
Here is everything you need to know about the 52nd International Film Festival of India:
What is the venue?
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the film festival has adopted a hybrid format that combines both virtual and physical modes. The physical mode will take place at Maquinez Palace Complex, Panjim. The opening and closing ceremony will be held at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium in Taleigao.
Who is organising IFFI?
The festival is organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India in collaboration with the State Government of Goa and the Indian Film Industry.
Which film will open the 52nd edition of IFFI?
Carlos Saura's The King of All the World (El Rey de Todo El Mundo) will open the festival on November 20.
A Mexico-Spain co-production film follows the story of celebrated Mexican Choreographer Sara Ana De la Reguera), who is invited by Manuel (Manuel García Rulfo), a stage director, to help him prepare a new musical. The cast is led by Ana de la Reguera, Manuel García Rulfo, Damián Alcázar, Enrique Arce, Manolo Cardona, Isaac Hernández and Greta Elizondo.
Which film will close 52nd IFFI?
'A Hero' an Iranian film written and directed by Asghar Farhadi will be the closing film of the festival. The film won the Grand Prix at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.
Which films are nominated for Golden Peacock Award?
A total of 15 films have been nominated for the top honour of the Golden Peacock Award for IFFI this year.
The following movies are :
Any Day Now (Finland)
Charlotte (Paraguay)
Godavari (India)
Intregalde (Romania)
Land of Dreams (USA)
Leader (Poland)
Me Vasantrao (India)
Moscow Does Not Happen (Russia)
No Ground Beneath The Feet (Bangladesh)
Once We Were Good For You (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Ring Wandering (Japan)
Saving One Who Was Dead (Czech Republic)
Semkhor (India)
The Dorm (Russia)
The First Fallen (Brazil)
Which films will be screened in the Indian Panorama section?
A total of 35 films will be screened Indian Panorama Section divided into two sections - Featured films and Non-featured films. It will screen movies in English, Sanskrit, Tamil, Marathi, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Gujarati, Dimasa, Bodo, and Bengali.
Featured films: 'Semkhor' (Dimasa), directed by Ms Aimee Baruah, has been chosen as the opening feature film of the Indian Panorama segment. A total of 25 films have been selected to be screened during IFFI. The jury for featured films comprising twelve members is headed by Filmmaker and actor S V Rajendra Singh Babu.
Non-Featured films: The opening Non-Feature film is 'Ved...The Visionary' (English), directed by Rajiv Parkash. Non - Feature Jury consists of seven members headed by documentary Filmmaker S. Nallamuthu. A total of 20 films will be screened during the nine- days fest.
How many films are being screened under World Panorama Section?
A total of 55 films from across the world will be showcased under the World Panorama Section.
Which films will be screened in the festival Kaleidoscope Section?
The line-up consists of 11 films under this section of the movie gala. These include Bad Luck Banging Or Loony Porn, Brighton 4th, Compartment No 6, Feathers, I’m Your Man, Red Rocket, Souad, Spencer, The Story of My Wife, The Worst Person In The World, Titane
Who will get a special tribute this year?
The 52nd International Film Festival will pay a special tribute to Sir Sean Connery, the first actor to portray fictional British secret agent James Bond.
In Memorium:
The festival will pay tribute to late personages, French director Bertrand Tavernier, Hollywood star Christopher Plummer, French novelist, actor and Oscar-winning screenwriter Jean-Claude Carriere and the French 'New Wave' auteur Jean-Paul Belmondo. The films lined up to be screened in the 'Homage' section: 'A Sunday in the Country (1948) by Bertrand Tavernier 'All the Money in the World' (2017) by Ridley Scot starring Christopher Plummer 'At Eternity's Gate' (2018) by Julian Schnabel, screenplay penned by Jean-Paul Belmondo.
Which films are lined up for ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal?
International Film Festival of India has announced the line-up of nine films that will compete for the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal.
The following films are 21st Tiffin (2020), Commitment Hasan (2021), Killing The Eunch Khan (2021), Koozhangal (2020), Lingui, The Sacred Bonds (2021), Night Forest (2021), Niraye Thathakalulla Maram (2021), Tokyo Shaking (2021), When Pomegranates Howl (2021).
Who will feature in the Retrospective Section?
The 52nd International Film Festival of India will show a retrospective of the celebrated Russian filmmaker Andrei Konchalovsky and the eminent Hungarian filmmaker, Bela Tarr.
Bela Tarr films have won accolades at Berlin, Cannes and Locarno Film Festival. His remarkable work notable works are Damnation (1988), Werckmeister Harmonies (2000), The Turin Horse (2011), Satantango (1994). The films of Mr Tarr that will be screened: Family Nest (1977), Outsider (1981), Damnation (1988) and The Turin Horse (2011).
Andrei Konchalovsky films have won numerous accolades, including the Cannes Grand Prix Special du Jury, a FIPRESCI Award, two Silver Lions, three Golden Eagle Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. His notable films like The Story of Asya Klyachina (1966) and Uncle Vanya (1970). The films of Mr Konchalovsky that will be screened: The First Teacher (1965), Uncle Vanya (1970), Runaway Train (1985), The Postman’s White Nights (2014) and Paradise (2016)
Who will receive the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award?
Hollywood veteran filmmaker Martin Scorsese and Hungarian filmmaker Istevan Szabo will be honoured with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement award.
Movies of Martin Scorsese to be screened : Taxi Driver (1976), Goodfellas (1990), Shutter Island (2010) and The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).
Movies of Istevan Szabo to be screened : Mephisto (1981), Father (1966), Colonel Redl (1985) and Taking Sides (2001)
OTT to participate in 52nd IFFI :
Netflix, Amazon Prime, Zee5, Voot and Sony Liv will participate at the film festival through exclusive Masterclasses, content launches and previews in virtual and physical mode.
Netflix will be organising a 3-day virtual Masterclass by the Paris based renowned school of image and arts, Gobelins School L’image.
A masterclass by Scam-1992 screenplay writer – Sumit Purohit and Saurav Dey is organized by Sony.
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