Prashant Rasaily’s Katha to be screened at IFFI

GANGTOK, 12 Nov: Prashant Rasaily’s Katha will be screened in the 44th International Film Festival of India 2013 scheduled to be held from 20 to 30 November in Goa. This film was among 19 films shortlisted from the North-East for the festival.
The 44th International Film Festival of India 2013 will be organized by the IFFI Secretariat under the aegis of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Goa and the Indian Film Industry.
While speaking about the IFFI during a press conference today, PIB [Gangtok] Director, CK Dorjee informed that this year the festival will focus on North-East Cinema and the festival will feature a special section on films from the eight states of North-East India. He informed that a package of 19 films from the North-East will explore the immense ethnic, traditional and cultural diversity in the 8 states of North-East, along with cultural and aesthetic elements like dance and music shows, exhibition of fabric, handicrafts and cuisine. He further informed that the festival will also have panel discussions on emerging film craft of the region.
Speaking further on the festival, the Director informed that the festival brings cinema from around the world to the country, and presents a boutique of contemporary and classic cinema from India to the world, through a variety of film screening programmes, academic sessions and cultural exchange programmes.
“Based on the concept of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the whole world is one family), the festival will feature the best of world cinema touching upon nuances of emerging trends in the world of cinema,” he added.  
Around 160 foreign films are to be showcased in this edition, under various categories, and through this cultural exchange of sensibilities and perspectives, take Indian cinematic sensibilities across borders.        
The festival will be attended by Academy award-winning Hollywood actor Susan Sarandon, critically acclaimed Iranian director, producer and screenwriter Majid Majidi, Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland, along with luminaries from Indian cinema including actor Rekha and legendary singer Asha Bhosle.
The International Competition features prize money amounting to a total of around Rs. 13.2 crore. 15 films from around the world will vie for the coveted Peacock Awards at the 44th IFFI. The Indian Cinema Centenary Award will be bestowed on a film with artistic merit and technical excellence    
The Lifetime Achievement Award will be bestowed on renowned Czech filmmaker, theatre director, actor and scenarist, Jiri Menzel and his latest film ‘The Don Juans’ will also open the Festival. Indian Panorama category comprises of 25 feature films and 15 non-feature films from contemporary Indian cinema
Legendary actor Manoj Kumar will officially flag off Indian Panorama 2013 during the inaugural ceremony. ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’, directed by Justin Chadwick and written by William Nicholson will be the closing film of IFFI 2013.
The 2013 IFFI pays tributes to ground-breaking filmmakers Manoj Kumar, Buddhadeb Dasgupta and S. Shankar, and three films of the Masters’ choice are screened for fans.