Govt aims to make India the hub for world cinema-MIB Anurag Thakur

Veteran actor Hema Malini was honoured with the Indian Film Personality of the Year 2021 Award at the 52nd edition of the International Film Festival of India. The festival started in Goa on Saturday. Welcoming film lovers to Goa, Minister for Information & Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur said IFFI 52 has brought together a diverse bouquet of films and filmmakers from around the world. “There are many firsts at IFFI. For the first time ever, IFFI has allowed OTT platforms to come and showcase and present what they have produced in the past few years.” IFFI is embracing new technology and giving a platform to artists and industry to engage with each other, keeping up with the pace of change,said Thakur.

Speaking about the novel initiative, the Minister said: “For the first time ever, we are recognizing and mentoring promising 75 young minds, as   we celebrate 75 years of India’s independence. They have been chosen by the grand jury and selection jury after a meticulous selection process.” Union Minister extended a passionate invitation to all film makers in India and across the world, to come and be a part of the cinematic kaleidoscope of collaborative diversity of the world’s largest democracy.

Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Apurva Chandra said that IFFI is the largest and best film festival of the country with a rich legacy of more than 50 years. “IFFI is a celebration of good films from India and all across the world at one location in a festival of nine days.” Chandra said that we received 624 entries from 96 countries despite COVID-19, in comparison to 69 countries last year. 44 films from 18 different languages of India are being showcased at the Indian Panorama section, including a film in Dimasa language, which is not even in the 8th Schedule of the constitution. There are 12 world premieres, 7 international premieres and 64 national premieres, which shows that the love for IFFI is growing year on year. It shows that we have stood up to the challenge during these COVID times. For the first time ever, films from five BRICS nations, namely Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa and of course India will be showcased through the BRICS Film Festival alongside IFFI.

MoS I&B Dr. L Murugan and Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant also addressed the opening ceremony.