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Goa has always been in the news. It has many firsts pre- Liberation. The first printing press, the first Medical College in Asia to list a few . Post Liberation a hired motorcycle taxi , the first Chief Minister to be put behind bars, the first Speaker of a Legislative Assembly to defect after the Anti Defection Bill and now the first sitting MLA to resign from the Assembly and seek re-election on a different party ticket . The list is endless. But if Goa has been selected as the venue for the 35th International Film Festival of India � and atleast, as of date destined to be a permanent venue �then indeed Goa has added another feather to its cap. For 451 year the Portuguese ruled in some predominantly Catholic dominated Talukas and since 1763 i.e for 198 years in the remaining predominantly Hindu dominated Talukas until 19th December, 1961 and with this came a new breed of Goans with cultural influence of the West mingling with the East . Therefore in the eyes of tourist both national or international visiting this tiny 25th State, for its beach tourism, hippy destination land of the 70's, the recent paedophile syndrome, its sun, sea, smack cheap liquor, nudity, acid parties, rave shows, discreet sex orgies, rest, health, recuperation destination, rock and jazz music motor racing go-karting,casinos, discos, party zones, party animals catamarans, peace, tranquility, htich hiking, wild life, crocodile viewing, boat rides, yatching, eco tourism "jolly people" or "Goan Ladki" , Goa has invariably been described either as the "Rome of the East" or " Kashi of the South" because of its numerous temples in the Hindu dominated Talukas. To add to this is the beautiful scenery enhanting surrounding beaches and it extensive biodiversity borne by the Mandovi (Mhadei) river or thirteen small and big rivers which drain from the Sahaydris and meander into the coastal plains washed into the Arabian sea travesing the lenght and breadth of the State. According to Smt Jayashree Raghuraman IAS Secretary (Information)Govt of Goa she state that she made a forceful plea--for IFFI 2004 though Goa did not have the Infrastructure in place then in January 2004 as compared to Mumbai, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal Kerala but eventually succeeded because of the aforesaid characteristics of this tiny state under Portuguese dominion until 1961. Director of Film Festival Govt of India Ms Neelam Kapoor was clear that Goa would be a permanent destination for the film festival firstly because Goa is known internationally-- what with CHOGM and the visit of the present Pope in the eighties secondly with so many European tourist making Goa their destination when winter sets in at their end, one could expect them to have business mixed with pleasure and hence a Film Bazaar is also planned. Indian Film Industry lacked a proper permanent promotion of film market whether it is Bollywood or other regional film centres in South AP Karnataka Kerala They had to do it at Cannes in France Canada and other film marts abroad. As the count down begins for the red letter day 29th November 2004 -- to 9th December 2004 ---- a 60 member orchestra of world acclaimed A B Rehman will reverberate the Dinanath Mangueshkar (named after father of Lata Mangueshkar and Asha Bhosle) Kala Mandir, within the precincts of the renovated (in a record three months time by Uttam jain Architects & Planners New Delhi ) 20 year old (designed by world famous architect, Charles Correa ) Kala Academy the main venue of the IFFI Goa 2004 which would screen over 200 International films from America Canada Iran Poland, Switzerland, Portugal, Germany,UK, Bangladesh South Africa, with many others to follow including several from India. There is an International Media centre and Jury room as well at the main venue. This will be followed by a live rope dance performance by noted danceur Ms Isha Sharvani. The first film to be screened on 29th will be Vanity Fair by Ms Mira Nair. Chief Guest of the evening will be thespian film actor Dilip Kumar. Noted film producer and distributor Mr Subhas Ghai will lead the function. The whole event will be telecast live by Doordarshan to the country with networks around the world. >From the next day onwards until 8th / 9th December 2004 there will be screenings in the Gujarat based INOX - Movie Multiplex a newly constructed 4 movie screening theatres which was constructed in a record six months time having a state of art set up matching International standards. For the teaming visitors International and national besides the locals from Goa there is scope for viewing some of the prominent films viz Mission Impossible Dilwale Duniya le jayenge, Dhoom, Gladiator etc others in various languages which will be screened at a city beach Miramar 1.5 kms from venue of the film festival. The screens are 70 x 30 feet to enable clear visibility. There are plans for a similar show at internationally famous Colva Beach in the South 6 kms from Margao City (38 kms from Panaji) which is the main station for the Railways and the Kadamba Bus terminus. There are also some plans to have such screenings on yet another city beach the infamous Baina Beach at Vasco da Gama which has now been cleared of the scourge of prostitution in mid June last. Besides that there will be a "Film Bazaar" organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and supported by National Film Dev Corporation near the main venue which is christened as "Darya Sangam" just outside the Kala Academy where films will be screened for reviews purchase and distribution. Film producers technicians students film critics could analyse learn new techniques methods of production animation at the venue during the festival. The whole centre of activity begins in the capital city Panaji starting 3kms from the Kadamba Bus Terminus Complex or the Mandovi Bridge via the now emptied Adil Shahs Palace (hitherto housed the State Secretariat and Legislative Assembly shifted acrross the River Mandovi at Penha de Franca village) Hotel Mandovi via Dempo House via Asias' oldest Medical College (Old GMC) which is now the centre of IIFI Goa and behind which is the INOX movie Multiplex and (St Inez canal an unhygienic unclean nullah which remains an eye sore and a potential threat for malaria just behind INNOX and Don Boscos School St Inez) then via the Forest Department Nursery , via Childrens Park the Kala Academy open air theatre Goa Marriot and upto Miramar Beach all this along Asias longest promenade running alongside River Mandovi. There will be special arrangements for transporting prominent Hollywood Bollywood stars and many others who will enjoy the hospitality of Taj Group of Hotels Fort Aguada Resort across the River Mandovi. The entire infrastructure plan has been put into place under the scan of M/s HOK International Toronto Canada while other activity of IFFI Goa 2004 will be co-ordinated by Entertainment Society of Goa headed by able Chief Executive Officer Mr Sanjith Rodrigues (Mumbai bred) and the 360 degrees Times Infotainment will look after the Entertainment and PR activity. The entire edifice of the film festival was done under the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation whose Chairman is the IIT educated Chief Minister of Goa Mr Manohar Parrikar. During the period there are plans to have as much entertainment around the venue Goas famed singers Remo Hema Sardessai then there could be a Float on the lines of Goa's famed Carnaval a la Brazil Carnaval sans the Samba and the Flamingo dances. Since Goa is playing host to this International event there will be display of Goan Art Culture Music and even Food display. Some of these are planned along the Cornice Road. The Goa College of Art & Local artisans will depict the traditional art and crafts . There are plans to introduce a mini Walt Disney land for the children at the Childrens Park. If things go as planned then there may be screening of some films at the twin movie multiplex of Osia at the Kadamba Bus terminus Margao and some of the existing theatres but this would be subject to their meeting with international standards of cleanliness hygiene and accoustics. Delegates who conform with the rules viz professionals from the cinema world an other audio visual media publishers writers film critics members of cultural bodies etc would be given entry on payment of Rs 200/- The details of all the above is available on the website www.iffi.nic.in and visitors to Goa could browse through www.goidirectory.nic.in or www.goagovt.nic.in to get an insight of the things happening at the IIFI Goa 2004. >From the IIFI Head qtrs Panaji GODFREY J I GONSALVES Borda Margao Goa [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your life partner online Go to: http://yahoo.shaadi.com/india-matrimony
