IFFI bigger, richer this year: Organisers

PANAJI - The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is bigger, richer and has much wider reach this year, the organisers said Sunday.

Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) chief S.M. Khan said at a press conference here that the 41st IFFI starting Monday offers the biggest purse of prize money as compared to any other film festival in the world.

“No other film festival in the world offers prize money of $200,000 (Rs.9 million),” he said.

“The prize money will be sponsored by the government of India,” Khan said, adding that 18 films were in the reckoning for five awards in the competition section of the festival.

While there are 15 foreign films, three Indian films are competing in the section — Bengali film “Moner Manush” directed by Goutam Ghose, English film “Just Another Love Story” directed by Kaushik Ganguly and Marathi film “Vihir” directed by Umesh Kulkarni.

Khan said that for the first time this year, films from the North American continent had been invited to broaden the scope of the festival that ends Dec 2.

“The best film will be awarded a Golden Peacock and prize money of Rs.40 lakh. The best director will get a Silver Peacock and Rs.15 lakh,” he said.

“The best actor will be given a Silver Peacock and Rs.10 lakh. The best actress will get a Silver Peacock and Rs.10 lakh and the special jury award will carry a Silver Peacock and Rs.15 lakh,” Khan said.