The countdown to 36th International Film Festival at Punjim, Goa, has begun and organizers are gearing up to handle higher number of turnout. This year festival may go smoother with enough experience to fall back on.

Curtain of the festival will rise on November 24, 2005 and this ten days festival will screen over 200 films with lots of fringe activities along with main screening. Delegates from all over the world will be given a taste of Goan lifestyle with presentation of street animation programmes, beach cinema along with local artists’ show.

Festival will feature seven major sections, which includes competition for Asian, African, Latin American Directors, Cinema of the World, Indian & Foreign retrospectives, Tribute and Homages, Indian Panorama and Mainstream Indian Cinema. However final screening schedule is still awaited.

Aamir Khan and Kamal Hasan will be among the key speakers at the conference organized by CII at the festival, which will focus on the role of the entertainment sector in India’s globalisation effort. “Iqbal” director Nagesh Kukunoor will explain the process of making a successful low budget film while Oscar winner Elizabeth’s director, Shekhar Kapoor will offer a perspective of Indian Cinema and Examine its need for a change.

About 3000 delegates are expected to attend the festival. Considering last years experience in hand, organizers are geared up for better hospitality to delegates. Most of the hotels are already booked.
Rajendra Joshi