Daijiworld Correspondent Ares in Panaji

Panaji, Jun 29: Goa government is decided to take over the international film festival of India (IFFI) in a phased manner from the union information and broadcasting ministry. 

Officials confirmed that by 2008, entire film festival would be taken over by the state government. For this, the stress is given on increasing the sponsorship so that entire event would be self sustainable. 

"Last year sponsorship worth Rs 1.7 crore was collected and this time, we intend to increase the figure," stated Nandini Paliwal, chief executive officer, Entertainment society of Goa (ESG). The ESG is a nodal agency, a semi-government agency, specially conceived to hold IFFI.

This year, the film festival will take place between November 23 to December 3.

"We have started the preparations. This year, state government will take over the peripheral activities of the festival," stated Paliwal adding that the exact model of take over is yet to be finalized. 

Officials feel that Goa has a capacity to hold the festival on its own and would do it with the help of Indian film industry.