Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore inaugurated the Indian Panorama section of the 46th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa over the weekend.
The opening film in the feature section was Sanskrit film, "Priyamanasam" while a documentary called "Goonga Pehalwan" - based on the life and struggles of one of India's most accomplished deaf athletes - opened the section in the non-feature category.
Rathore called cinema a powerful medium of communication and entertainment.
"In the International Film Festival we have introduced Indian Panorama and with it a special package of films from the northeast. Everything that we are proud of, everything that we feel needs to get even better; this is a great platform to showcase that," said Rathore.
The Indian Panorama section received a total number of 384 films from different parts of the country including 238 feature and 146 non-feature films.
The jury for feature films headed by ace filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma selected 26 films out of 238 eligible entries.
Sharma's films will be shown in the Focus on Northeast cinema section of the festival.
Four-time national award winner Rajendra Janglay chaired the non-feature jury for Indian Panorama section and the jury selected 21 films out of 146 entries.
The information and broadcasting ministry had also put up an exhibition of old films where the visitors could go through a variety of photographs, video clips, et al of the films which have been damaged over a period of time.
"With the National Film Heritage Mission the government's aim is to restore the old films that have been spoiled or damaged. The films and the sounds will be restored by digitizing them and then they will be presented before the public," added Rathore.
During the 10-day film festival, a competition for feature and non-feature films by directors from all continents would also take place. Around 7,000 delegates from at least 38 countries are taking part in the festival.
The IFFI concludes on November 30.
