An Essay by Fiona Valencia Noronha, a student of Indian Community School Kuwait, which won the 1st Prize, Goa Day Oct, 2003
GOA AS A PERMANENT VENUE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF INDIA (IFFI) Goa, Rome of the East is best known as a tourist place in India and abroad. It is lavishly gifted by nature for its scenic beauty, virgin sun-kissed beaches girdling its long palm fringed coast interspearsed with enchanting coves, bays and estuaries,paddy fields, shady coconut, cashew and mango groves dotted with tiny picturesque villages, temples and churches renowned for worship and pilgrims, fort and monuments and above all friendly and hospitable people. The natural beauty of Goa and its geographical contiguity with Mumbai's film industry has prompted the Information & Broadcasting Ministry to declare the coastal touristic destination a permanent venue for International Film festival of India. With its ambience and infrastructure facilities, Goa will be earning the reputation like Cannes for promoting international film festivals. The area from Panaji to Fort Aguada crossing over the picturesque River Mandovi will be the permanent venue for IFFI. Most Goans have a rosy picture in their minds about IFFIand are anxiously waiting with open arms to offer Goan hospitality to the film personalities who will grace the occasion, Excitement have already writ large on the faces of hoteliers to laymen and from office goers to housewife who are holding high expectation about the major event. Most goans are expressing happiness and a feeling that this is a rare opportunity which has the potential to provide a new direction to cultural activities and are optimistic about the IFFI event feeling that the festival will prove boon in the long run and would definitely have positive impact on economy and a golden opportunity for goans to exhibit their talents. Most organisations like Goan Welfare Society who have budding actors, tiatrists will also benefit from this festival. However, a section of the goans are critical about the festival and feel that it will spoilgoan cultural ambience once it becomes an annual affair and also some of the officials in the government will start their corruption. Bollywood produces world's largest number of films every year commercially but by having our own permanent film festival, Indian producers and directors like Karen Johar,Yash Johar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali can think big and project its brands of good and artistic cinema. Though film festivals would be for a very short period, the development would remain forever. Even the inquisitive Goans would get an opportunity to meet, see and interact with the film personalities. A high profile film festival taking place in Goa will really take the state's tourism industry, economy and business activity to the top gear and will contribute more to the cultural confluence.Due to the IFFI, the people are anxiously waiting to see a huge rise in cinema. Fiona Valencia Noronha Indian Community School, Kuwait ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
