Days after warning of protests from the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and Congress, the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) has withdrawn a clause that required submission of at least four films for the Goan Premiere Section at the 52nd International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
"The clause stating that 'the special Goan section shall be conducted only if this office receives more than 4 entries for the same' stands relaxed," the Chief Executive Officer of ESG said in a statement on Saturday.
Earlier, GFP had said that the state government is trying to deprive Goan Konkani filmmakers from showcasing their films at IFFI.
On Sunday, Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat said this is not enough and demanded that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant immediately intervene to ensure that all the films under this section are a part of the ‘Official Section’ of IFFI.
“It is unfortunate that the BJP government has no respect for the artist community and film fraternity of Goa. Filmmakers have put in hard efforts to produce films braving all adversities during the Covid pandemic. They deserve appropriate recognition. Screening their films in the Official Section of IFFI-2021 will come as a big reward for them,” Kamat said.
The 52nd edition of Iffi is being held from November 20 to 28 at Panaji.
