Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today assured construction of a special facility to host International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in the state next to Miramar beach by the next edition of the event.
"Goa internationally is known as the land for films and film festivals. It's high time to convert it into a film festival destination," Parrikar said during the inaugural function of IFFI here this evening.
The state government will construct a facility to permanently house the IFFI, he said.
"From next year onwards you will be witnessing this ceremony from a permanent facility close to Miramar (beach)," he said.
The festival is currently being held at two different venues - Macquiniz Palace and Kala Academy.
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari and other film personalities, including Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon, Waheeda Rehman, Kamal Hassan, Rekha, Asha Bhonsle and others were present for the inaugural ceremony of the ten-day-long festival.
The Chief Minister said that the code of conduct may be an impediment for the plans to construct a new facility but the government will work it out so that when the state celebrates ten years of IFFI next year, it is done through a devoted facility.
The festival will screen 328 films, including 171 international films from 75 countries.
