Veteran filmmaker Ramesh Sippy will inaugurate the 47th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here tomorrow in the presence of Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu.
"Chief-guest for the opening ceremony will be the veteran film maker of "Sholay" fame, Ramesh Sippy. The Guest of Honor will be actor Sushant Singh Rajput, while special guests include, Prosenjeet and Shri Gautam Ghosh, renowned directors," festival director C Senthil Rajan told reporters here.
Polish drama film "Afterimage" (2016) directed by Andrzej Wajda would open the eight-day long festival, where close to 300 films from 90 countries will be screened.
He said the festival is paying tribute to Wajda and
Iranian film director Abbas Kiarostami by screening their movies.
"This edition will be a real delight for delegates registered for the event. It is a festival of storytellers and IFFI is celebrating directors this year, he said adding that IFFI, the biggest film festival of India, turns thirteen this year in Goa.
"This festival is not merely a platform to screen films, but also to set new trends and introduce new technologies. IFFI 2016 is introducing a new laser-based phosphor wheel projector from Barco Electronics, used for the very first time in any film festival across the globe," he added.
Centenary Indian Film Personality of the Year-2016, legendary singer S P Balasubrahmanyam, will also be felicitated at the opening ceremony for his "remarkable, extraordinary and exceptional journey in Indian cinema" as a singer.
"He has been one of the most prolific singers of the country with over 40,000 song recordings to his credit," the festival director said.
This festival tries to give the young and aspiring filmmakers a platform, where they get to learn and interact from industry greats.
IFFI 2016 will have gala screenings, including four world premieres and six international premieres. With 26 Asian premieres and 104 Indian premiers, the 47th IFFI promises to bring the best of cinema from year 2015 and 2016, he said.
The Indian Panorama section will be inaugurated on November 21.
Second time in a row, the Indian Panorama will open with a Sanskrit film, "Ishti", while non-feature section will open with "Ima Sabitri".
Pluis Fernandez and Prakriti Maduro starrer "Tamara', directed by Elia K Schneider, will be the mid-fest film.
The festival will conclude with the screening of 'The Age of Shadows' a film by Kim Jee Woon.
