Shyamhari Chakra
The ongoing pandemic has taken toll of yet another major international event of India – the most awaited International Film Festival of India (IFFI) being hosted every year in Goa.
Covid-19 crisis has compelled the hosts of the festival – the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) and the Government of Goa – to reschedule the 51st edition of IFFI to January 16 to 24 next year.
It was scheduled for November 20 to 28 this year. The Directorate of Film festivals (DFF) under the Ministry of I&B has been the nodal agency for hosting IFFI.
The decision was taken following a discussion between I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar and Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant today.
The festival will be conducted in a hybrid format – both in virtual and physical format – following all Covid related protocols prescribed by various international agencies hosting such festivals, I&B Ministry sources stated.
Asia’s oldest and India’s most prestigious festival of its kind, IFFI was launched in 1952 in the then Bombay with encouragement of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Subsequently, IFFI became a travelling festival and was being hosted in New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram.
Since 2004, Goa has become the permanent venue of this annual event.
IFFI had received participation of 23 countries with entries of about 200 films in 1952 when it was launched. Its Golden Jubilee edition, celebrated last year, witnessed participation of a whopping number of 1000 entries of films from over 100 countries.
At its 5th edition, IFFI adopted its permanent emblem that showcase representation of the peacock, India’s national bird, with a permanent motto of the festival ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The whole world is a family).
