Panaji: Unseasonal rains may cast a shadow over the opening ceremony of the 52nd edition of the International Film Festival of India, but preparations are on full-swing nevertheless, vice chairman of the Entertainment Society of Goa, one of the co-organisers of the event, Subhash Phaldesai said on Friday.
“Preparations are on. Because of the rains, we have not been able to carry out outdoor erection and installations. We are waiting for the last moment to do it. All of us are just about 18 hours away from the biggest festival,” Phaldesai said.
Also, “We are all set and prepared. Installations are ready. The red carpet comes later because of the rains. We hope that the Unseasonal rains will go away soon,” he also said.
The festival starting Saturday (November 20) screens 148 films from 73 countries in the festival’s international section. 12 world premieres, 26 Asia premieres also take place at the event.
For the first time Netflix, Amazon, Zee 5 and Viacom will also be participating in the event.
‘The King of all the World’ (El Rey de Todo El Mundo) is the opening film. ‘The Power of the Dog’ directed by Jane Campion, will be the mid-fest film.
Nonetheless, The opening feature film of Indian Panorama 2021 is Semkhor by Aimee Baruah. This is the first ever film in the Dimasa language featuring at IFFI.
Cinema giants Martin Scorsese and Istevan Szabo will also be honoured with the first Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award, even as the festival will also pay homage to Kannada film actor late Puneet Rajkumar as well as Sir Sean Connery.
