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CANNES GOA? SHOULD GOA? THE HOUR OF IFFI RECKONING IS FINALLY HERE >From Pamela D'Mello asianage at sancharnet.in Cannes Goa? Should Goa? Why Goa? Will Goa? For all the questions that have plagued Goa's choice as the permanent venue for India's international film festival, the hour of reckoning is finally here. As India's 35th IFFI sets to roll from November 29, to an opening concert by AR Rehman and Mira Nair's acclaimed Vanity Fair, much is at stake for the festival itself, Indian cinema and the state's gamble with footing a Rs 100 crore (Rs 1000 million) bill to co-host IFFI. 'We wanted to re-brand the festival using Goa's well known tourist location. Already there's a certain buzz, we've been able to create a special ambiance," festival director Ms Neelam Kapur says of the new venue, describing it as a "huge improvement from any other previous location." Growing at 15% in recent years, India's $509 million (rpt $509 million) film industry produces over a 1000 films a year, the largest number by any country worldwide. In 2001 film exports touched Rs 5.25 billion, up 17% from the previous year, while music rights brought in Rs 1.5 billion in 2001. With a unique distinction of having produced 67,000 films in over 30 languages and dialects since introduction of the talkies in 1931, India's film festivals were yet to make a mark globally. Recent ministerial visits to Cannes from the New Delhi's Information & Broadcasting ministry, goaded on by Bollywood moghuls Yash Chopra and Subhash Ghai came up with ideas to re-brand IFFI, anchor it down in India's best-loved playground for the rich and famous, and use the state's tourist fame to attract global film makers, enthusiasts and traders. A 105-kilometre long stretch of sandy shore, 39 starred hotels, cuisine that's making its mark, and an aimed-for world city-state from September-March visited by British, Russian, German and Scandinavian holidayers during peak tourism months -- this Cannes wannabe state is the new "ramp" for Indian cinema. "Even twenty five years ago, some of us -- Girish Karnad, and the late Satyajit Ray and myself -- felt the festival should be held in one place and we suggested Goa. But nothing happened", says film maker Shyam Benegal. IDEAL, FOR TWO REASONS "Goa is ideal for two reasons. Although it is not a centre for film it is a centre for tourism. A film festival is a festival. Where people come to do business in films, to enjoy films and also to enjoy the environment of the place. Goa has everything. A relaxed atmosphere, its a perfect holiday destination and eventually interest in films will also increase". Most festivals are known by the cities that host them. For instance, Venice, Cannes, Stockholm, Locarno, Berlin, Tokyo, Toronto. But India's most prestigious festival IFFI since inception in 1952, kept roving from Mumbai to Bangalore, Calcutta, Chennai, and Hyderabad and every other year Delhi. "All these years we've had it in Delhi, we've had exactly the same festival. How has it helped? It hasn't helped in adding to cinema enthusiasts, not in marketing, nor has it made Delhi a great film place," argues Benegal. But an announcement from former I&B Minister Ravi Prasad Sharma in 2003 brought some skepticism. Critics argue Goa itself has nothing of a film culture -- entertainment is associated here with the beach, eating out, Western music and dance. Films are given the go-by. Goa's few cinema houses have long been derelict, run down buildings, where Hollywood and Bollywood blockbuster barely make a box office dent. "Cannes did not have a film culture either, when it started out", says Benegal. This small fishing village in the south of France was only a reasonably successful small seaside resort, thinking to extend its tourism season by a further two weeks, when it agreed to cough up the money to build a dedicated venue for an alternative festival to Venice in 1939. France had then just walked out of the Venice festival along with British and American jury members, in protest against a German film (co-produced by Goebbels' ministry of propaganda and Mussolini's son) winning the coveted Golden Lion award. >From there it grew, re-emerging after World War II, with a new venue, branding itself with the city's trademark palm leaf motif to create the Palme D'Or award, sexing up the festival with bikini clad glamorous starlets on the beach. Each decade Cannes grew -- establishing its film market in the 60s, in 1972 the festival board junked the system of letting countries send entries and began choosing its own films, in 1983 it moved into a new Palais du Festivals -- to become the Mecca of independent film making and the largest film market. This is a model that some in the Indian film industry are hoping to replicate in Goa. Goa smelt similar touristic opportunity. In four decades, investors had sunk in an estimated Rs 2000 crore in tourism-related facilities. It has 2068 hotels (of varying sizes), and 35300 beds to rent out. Arrivals were however plateauing out to 2 million a year, nearby Kerala was enticing away visitors and Goa needed to reinvent itself. It grabbed IFFI with both hands. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, backed by the hospitality industry, saw IFFI as its own launch pad to event-based tourism. An international convention centre, conferencing and event staging was the way forward to keep cash registers ringing and its 2068 hotels and guest houses occupied. No sooner did a formal announcement come through, the state moved every muscle to ready the venues, spending Rs 100 crore to set up a new multiplex, upgrade a festival auditorium, offices and infrastructure in the city for the event. Some of the work in beautifying the city had already got started under City of Panjim's former commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues. A joint citizen-council-corporate partnership since 2002, had beautified the city, restored traffic islands, gardens, heritage buildings and held events in a 'Together for Panjim' initiative. However a brook-no-opposition style of functioning and the six month deadline to complete what became known as IFFI-in-a-jiffy attracted criticism within the state, as the administration took on more ambitious tasks of overhauling the city. Additional projects of four-laning an eight-kilometre stretch became controversial as did demolitions of public buildings, a football ground and giant rain trees in the city. SPEED COMES, BUT AT A PRICE Additionally, chief minister Parrikar has been criticised for taking money out of rural Goa's kitty to fund Panaji's upgrade, environmentalist objected to roads reclaimed from the river's course, while opposition politicians have critiqued his corporate style of functioning, that has dispensed with normal checks and balances of government tenders, and financial transparency. Speed has come at its own price. Importing material and out-sourcing work added to the final tab picked by the public exchequer. Even so, several expressed doubts if the the state would be ready on for the November 29-Dec 9 festival. Directorate of Film Festival and information ministry officials jetted back and forth to ascertain progress, while the Opposition here pleaded that an IFFI in a jiffy and Panaji's break-neck speed overhaul was uncalled for and could wait a year. Councillors have expressed worry that safety in bridge construction and adequate time for concrete curing have been dispensed with to meet unrealistic deadlines. "I'm proud we've been able to complete it," says Mr Parrikar now, as final touches go down. "We have a perspective plan for a 15% growth in the festival". The state's Goa Entertainment Society, working with Rs 6 crore (Rs 60 million) to host the festival has set out to "dazzle delegates" with a musical extravaganza, cultural festivals, a carnival parade, regular daily beach screenings on Panaji suburb's Miramar beach on a giant 70x30 metre plasma screen, and stalls to showcase Goan arts, crafts and merchandise. NOT ALL PLEASED Events around the festival have become almost as big as the festival itself and not all are pleased. "Goa is not a place for serious movies, it's associated with revelry. IFFI needs a much more constrained atmosphere. Cannes is a much more glamorous festival, but we are not in that position," says long-time critic turned movie maker Khalid Mohammed. In a way, people here are dismayed they will not be able to access IFFI's menu of films. The Directorate of Film Festival's technical team could find just two cinema houses in Margao city with modern projectors for public screening. Non-delegate locals waiting to sample good films will get the usual cable TV fare at the beach screenings while just 25% of seats at INOX will be open to the public. Goans meanwhile thus far have belied the notion that the state has no little potential for developing a film culture. Gayatri Konkar of Goa's Moving Images Club, set up since March 2004 has screened 22 films so far, at fortnightly events, to audiences averaging eighty, with spillover standees in its small venues. Membership was cut off in October, for lack of large enough premises to accommodate aspiring members, she says. "What went for theatres is completely unacceptable. the state is definitely ready for better cinema houses", says Konkar. Opinions vary on Inox's potential to garner sales at current muttiplex prices, though government projects Rs 7 crore (Rs 70 million) annual takings from the venture. The Moving Images Club has asked for more affordable pricing to use some of the new projection venues. Others suggest after the initial novelty wears off, Goa's 1.4 million price sensitive market will give some of the more expensive venues the skip. "IFFI being relocated in Goa is a good thing for the state. But Rs 124 crore (Rs 1240 million) is a lot of money to spend on a ten-day event, and we seriously need to plan how to sustain all that investment, to make it pay back. We should be thinking of a series of events and start hustling for it right now", says Goa-based fashion designer Wendell Rodricks. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FILM MARKET: IS INDIA GETTING THERE? Does India need to be Cannes? Is it ready as a film market yet? IFFI's festival market run by CII and NFDC began just two years back, with moderate success. This year, CII plans a bigger market, with participation from domestic and international exhibitors. Twenty international buyers from France, the Netherlands, Romania, Sri Lanka, UK, Brazil and Mauritius have confirmed their participation according to CII sources. Exhibitors from Ernst & Young, Digiquest, Prime Focus, Mauritius Film Development Corporation, Mukta Arts, Children's Film Society,, Ramoji Rao Film city and others will hold stalls at the film bazaar this year. "India is not a market yet," says Khalid Mohammed. Bollywood producer Subhash Ghai though says developing the festival film market will take time depending on IFFI's programme menu, how it manages to reinvent itself and how Goa shapes up as a permanent venue (See box interview). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- GOA SEES LONG-TERM BENEFITS IN HOSTING IFFI -- THE OFFICIAL VIEW * Launch state as international entertainment hub * Get global visibility and recognition * Revenue from film entertainment and leisure projects * Direct and Indirect Employment Generation. * Create facilities for world class events, conventions, expositions and attract global funding * Make a mark on the world map as a Film Destination * Filip to tourism, trade and industry. * The Film Market at the Festival a source for revenue generation * Locals exposed to films of international standards * IFFI facilities available for other major events,conventions, seminars, workshops and other festivals throughout the year * Potential growth of training centers, film institutes, study facilities, film-city etc * Creative environment for local film makers * Potential emergence as ideal film shooting locale. * Cascading effect on overall development of state. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- HOW THE CURTAIN ROSE ON GOA 2002: I&B minister Ms Sushma Swaraj visits Cannes. Says India must develop its own festival and market. Goa thrown up as a possible location to anchor down the roving International Film Festival of India. May 2003: Goa sends a three-member delegation to Cannes to understand requirements, and meet Cannes officials. May 2003: I&B Minister Ravi Prasad Sharma and officials visit Cannes and on their return announce Goa as permanent venue for IFFI. June 2003: Key Advisory Group under Minister I&B set up to choose among five locations within Goa -- Betul, Cavelossim, Varca, Aguada Plateau, Velsao. KAG short-lists three, Velsao, Aguada Plateau, and Campal, Panaji or Panjim. (The last was added given the time constraints.) August 2003: Key Advisory Group meets in Goa and selects Campal Panaji for IFFI 2004. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- WHAT GOES IN -- INFRASTRUCTURE CREATED FOR IFFI * Lead Consultants: HOK International Ltd, Canada * INOX four-screen state of the art multiplex, capacity 1272 seats, optimum 25 shows a day, wall to wall stadium type seating, Christie projection, Dolby Digital EX three-way surround sound, DTS technology, Harkness Screens, automated masking, a special 16 mm projection system for old movies, looped auditorium for simultaneous screening with single print. Cost Rs 24 crore (Rs 240 million). Constructed in 180 days Project contractors: Inox Leisure LTD * Upgradation of 25 year old Charles Correia designed Kala Academy to be festival theatre with 954 seats in the auditorium named after Dinanath Mangueshkar (father of Lata Mangueshkar). Christie projectors, jury room, media centre, riverside walkway, Darya Sangam area for film bazaar stalls, jetty to transport guests by boat from hospitality partners Taj Aguada resorts across the bay at Sinquerim. Cost Rs 24 crore (Rs 240 million). Constructed in 110 days, 38 agencies working simultaneously Project contractors: Uttam C Jain &Associates and Unity Infraprojects LTd * Restoration of heritage building of former Goa Medical College and inner courtyard for IFFI camp office, adjoining INOX Cost:Rs 3.35 crore (Rs 33.5 million) * City infrastructure --- parallel bridge over Panaji's Ourem river, river dredging, four-laning of eight km stretch of water front road, landscaping with 40,000 saplings and two promenades. Cost Rs 50 cr Project contractors: Ms Simplex Ltd Calcutta, M/s M V Rao, Goa, M/s AFCONS Ltd, Mumbai * City lighting: 1600 small fixtures every 15 metres, 450 big fixtures every 30 metres. Albany fixtures imported from Keselec Shreder, Belgium. * Painting of public buildings by PWD. NON_STARTER PROJECTS * Steel frame collapsible Festival Auditorium, 1500 seating capacity, with four screening rooms, including jury screening room for inaugural and closing ceremonies. Estimated Cost Rs 16.50 crore (Rs 165 million). Status: Shelved to 2005 * Upgradation of Panaji's three run-down public theatres Interest free loan of Rs 3 crore per cinema promised Status : Non-starter ----------------------------------------------------------------------- WHO'S EXPECTED TO COME IN Dilip Kumar, Saira Bano, Dev Anand, Shabana Azmi, A R Rehman, Amitabh Bachchan, Yash Chopra, Karan Johar, Shyam Benegal, Manmohan Shetty, Shahrukh Khan, Sharmila Tagore, music director Shankar, Konkana Sensharma, producer Bobby Bedi, singer Ehsaan, Javed Akhtar, director Girish Kasravalli, M F Hussain, Soha Ali Khan, Mira Nair, Ashok Amritraj WHO's NOT Richard Gere, Goldie Hawn, Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta Jones, Julia Roberts. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Expected total delegates: 3500-4000 Film students: 250 Local delegates: 800 Media: 450 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EVENTS BLITZ AROUND THE FESTIVAL * Panjim ablaze -- festive lighting of the city * Carnival type float parade on inaugural afternoon, followed by music show along waterfront laser show and fireworks * A R Rehman and 60 member orchestra to perform at opening. * Daily beach cinema on 70x30m. giant plasma screens, Miramar beach. Mission Impossible, Dil to Pagal Hai, Shrek, Hum Tum, ET, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Gladiator, Goan folk dance, African dances, jugglers, race painters, magicians and myriad performers to perform on two erected stages outside IFFI office, daily late evening cultural shows of Goan music and dance. * Daily shows at the Kala Academy 2000 seater amphitheatre -- fusion jazz concert, Rahul da Cunha's Class of '84, Feroz Khan's Kuch bhi Ho Sakta hai. Vintage car rally, children's amusement park with moon walkers, Columbus boat rides, street plays and ventriloquist shows. -----------------------------------------------------------------------