From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (MR)
Panaji, Sep 10: Goa has finally ironed out its differences with the union government over holding the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2008.
"We are now ready to successfully organize IFFI 2008. We are satisfied with the decisions arrived during the meeting in Delhi," Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) General Manager Nikhil Desai told reporters here.
Goa's remark of `satisfaction' stems from the fruitful meeting between Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyarajan Dasmunshi and Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat who discussed the issues cropped up between ESG and Directorate of Film Festival (DFF).
Goa, which has been holding IFFI since 2004, was bargaining for more share in holding this year's festival. The DFF, initially relented and later has now decided to allow three major sections to be curated by Goa government's ESG.
'Indian Premier', `Retrospective' and `Country Focus' are the three sections which will be looked after by ESG professionals.
This also paves way for ESG to begin preparations to take over the festival by 2009. The state was offered to take over the festival in 2006, which was refused as Goa did not had adequate know how.
The ESG has now added more tooth to its functioning by recruiting former DFF deputy director Manoj Srivastava as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Srivastava was closely associated with the festival and was in charge of foreign films section.
The IFFI scheduled between November 22 and December two was caught in the controversy after DFF and ESG began tossing the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) amongst themselves.
The DFF rejected ESG's MoU and later ESG acted in similar fashion rejecting DFF's document.
The relation between both the agencies strained to an extended that ESG CEO Srivastava was quoted in an agency report stating that Goa can hold the festival on its own. "We can hold the festival of bigger magnitude than IFFI," he had commented.
The ESG had also began lobbying for Bollywood support, in case, the festival is held on its own.