 The 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) - 2009 was inaugurated today in a star studded function held at Kala Academy, Panaji, Goa. The legendary Film Actress Waheeda Rehman inaugurated the Festival with the symbolic lighting of the lamp helped by actress Asin and Nana Patekar as special guests in the august presence of the Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Digambar V. Kamat and the Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Smt. Ambika Soni. The International Jury headed by Brazilian Director Joao Batista de Andrade along with other members of the jury - Vic Sarin (Canada), Kenichi Okubu (Tokyo), Sarika (India) and Jean-Michel Frodon (France) were felicitated at the opening ceremony. Noted Film makers Gurinder Chadha, Nonzee Nimibutr and Roland Reber attended the inaugural function. Among the Indian film fraternity notable among those who attended the function included Shri Muzaffar Ali, Chairman, Feature Film Jury, Indian Panorama. The Secretary, Ministry of I&B, Government of India, Shri Raghu Menon, Chief Secretary, Government of Goa, Shri Sanjay Srivastava and Vice-Chairman, Entertainment Society of Goa, Shri Filipe Neri Rodrigues were also present on the occasion. The Chinese historical drama “Wheat” (MAI TIAN) directed by He Ping was screened at the opening ceremony. The well choreographed colourful rendition of the ensemble of classical dance forms from Tamil Nadu, Manipur, Kerala and Gujarat presented by the Kalashetra Troupe directed by Leela Samson entertained the audience. The IFFI-2009 in its various sections would be screening nearly 300 films across 10 Auditoria and three preview rooms in the cities of Panaji and Margao in Goa. The interesting poster exhibition, workshops, seminars as also the Film Bazaar would be held on the sidelines of the Festival. |