IFFI 2024, 06: The goods at the film bazaar, the barring of media at evening networking sessions and a media-unfriendly officer as the Head

At the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) the 18th edition of Film Bazaar will run from November 20 to 24, offering a dynamic platform for filmmakers and industry professionals to connect, collaborate and showcase their work.

This year, the Viewing Room returns to the Marriott Resort, featuring an enriched line up of good quality films from India and South Asia. Designed as a crucial hub for filmmakers seeking distribution and funding, the Viewing Room will showcase films that are complete or in post-production stage, allowing them to connect with global film programmers, distributors, sales agents, and investors. The Viewing Room will be accessible from November 21 to 24.

208 films will be available for viewing at this year’s edition of the Viewing Room Library of which 145 are feature films, 23 are mid-length films, 30 are short films. The overall line up of features and mid-length also include twelve titles of National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) produced and co-produced films, and adds 10 restored classics from the bouquet of NFDC- National Film Archive of India, now part of NFDC) NFAI. The films with a running time between 30-70 minutes that are submitted to the Viewing Room are showcased in a category called Mid-Length Films. Those with a running time of less than 30 minutes will be in the Short Films category.

The Film Bazaar Recommends (FBR)

The Film Bazaar Recommends (FBR) list curates and highlights 27 projects consisting of 19 feature films, 3 mid-length films, 2 short films and 3 restored classics out of the entire mix.

Prithul Kumar, (Interim) Managing Director of the NFDC, the parent body, says “We are thrilled to announce the selections for the FBR, which celebrate the creativity and passion of filmmakers. This initiative is not just about recognition; it’s about empowering storytellers to share their visions with the world. We believe in the transformative power of film and are committed to supporting the next generation of artists as they inspire and entertain.”

Selected projects from the Film Bazaar will have the opportunity to pitch their films to industry leaders, including producers, sales agents, distributors, festival programmers, and potential investors during an open pitching session at Film Bazaar. These Projects selected for the FBR section of feature, mid-length and short filmmakers from the Viewing Room, will pitch their films to producers, sales agents, distributors, festival programmers and potential investors in an open pitching session during Film Bazaar in Goa

Prithul Kumar was the Director of the 54^th IFFI. During the entire festival and the day preceding and following days (preceding IFFI and the day after it was wrapped up), he put me out of bound and refused to either see me. He had instructed his Secretary to do so, or so she said. I had not met him before and was going to share some thoughts of the festival with him. I went to see him at least five times, or to seek an appointment, and was always denied the ‘privilege’. At a party during the festival, I caught-up with him and asked him the reasons for the same. He said he was unaware of my visits and that his Secretary had not informed him. That is hard to believe, Mr. Kumar. And I fear that many other journalists must have suffered the same humiliation and are indignant about the same.

Mr. Prithul Kumar, I only hope that this year, in your role as MD of NFDC, you will be accessible to the Media. Whether you are the Director of the Film Festival or the Managing Director of NFDC, as a person holding public office, you have to be media-accessible rather than media-unfriendly. Denying them opportunities to meet you raises some doubts about your intentions in keeping them away. Below is a list of officials some of who might be at IFFI 2024.

The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) has appointed Prithul Kumar as interim NFDC managing director, effective immediately, replacing NFDC MD Ravinder Bhakar. according to an order dated 11 January 2023, with the approval of Minister Anurag Thakur.

The order says, "Prithul Kumar, working as joint secretary (films) in the ministry of information & broadcasting is hereby given the additional charge of managing director, National Film Development Corp. (NFDC) with immediate effect for a period of 06 (six) months or till the appointment of a regular MD or until further orders, whichever is the earliest. He will continue to discharge all responsibilities as joint secretary (films) in the ministry of information & broadcasting."

Prithul Kumar comes from the railways, as did his predecessor Bhakar. Bhakar is a 1999 batch officer of the Indian Railway Stores Service (IRSS), and Kumar is from the 2000 batch of IRTS (Indian Railway Traffic Service), a prestigious Group A civil service cadre of the central government.

Kumar was appointed joint secretary of MIB for a five-year term in August 2022. In June 2020, Bhakar was appointed the Central Board of Film Certification's CEO. In addition to his responsibilities as the CEO of the organisation, he was given three additional responsibilities in December 2021: managing director (MD) of the NFDC, director general of the films division (FD), and director of the Children's Film Society of India (CFSI).

Here is a comprehensive list of NFDC's current officials:

Board of Directors

Shri. Prithul Kumar Managing Director - NFDC, Joint Secretary (Broadcasting-II), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting                         

Shri. Deepak Narain   Government Nominee Director, Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting                         

Ms. Vrunda Manohar Desai Government Nominee Director, Joint Secretary (Films), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

Management

Shri. D. Ramakrishnan General Manager (P&A), Commissioned Production and Skill Devlpmnt.

Shri. Ajay G. Dhoke, IRS                  General Manager (North)

Shri. P. P. Math                     Dy. General Manager - Film Production

Shri. Balaji Mani Khumaran. M   Dy. Gen. Manager - Media Planning

Smt. Sumona Majumdar                   Dy. General Mgr - Company Secretary, Legal/AA - RTI                        

Shri. Vivek Toshniwal                       Dy. General Manager (F&A                   

Shri. Mahesh Yadav              Dy. General Manager (P&A) / CPIO - R             

Smt. Rohini Gauthaman                    Head - Regional Office Chennai

Shri. Kanti Jogadia                Manager - F & A                    

Shri. Jasbir Singh Baidwan    Manager, NFDC NFAI (Preservation)                   

Smt. Sonal Mathur     Head - Skill Development, International Promotions & Special Projects