From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Sep 29: Rubbing the shoulders with filmmakers, the short film makers and documentary producers will get a bigger and better platform during the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2008.

Entertainment society of Goa (ESG), a nodal agency hosting the festival, has decided to have a `Short Film Corner’, a space where buyers, sellers and funding agencies will have union of minds.

“This is a first ever such platform in India in past 40 years. The corner will be a sort of hub for the filmmakers to showcase their films, buyers to purchase and funding agencies to look out for the producers,” ESG’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Manoj Srivastava said.

Roping in the expertise, the ESG has tied up with Indian Documentary Film Producers’ Association (IDPA), who will guide the entire event.

The IFFI 2008 will be held in Goa between November 22 to December 2. The films across the globe would be screened and will compete for different awards.

This time, the ESG has decided to have special competitions within the short film corner for the short films and documentaries. The competitions would be held in two categories – International competition and Films on Environmental Issues.

“In all 20 films in the International competition and 10 on environmental issues will compete for the prizes which have cumulative worth of USD 26,000,” Srivastava said.

An international jury will be appointed to select the best short or documentary films.

ESG CEO said that nearly 500 international film makers are expected to submit their films for the corner, which will give much needed boost to this kind of films.

“India produces 800 to 1,000 short films annually. The corner aims to give impetus to this movement,” Srivastava said.

The organizers have decided to give censorship exemption for the foreign films while Indian films will be with the censor certificate, he added.

The ESG which had a tiff with the Directorate of Film Festivals over the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will finally sign the document, next week.

This time, Goa will play a larger role in this festival. Srivastava confirmed that four important sections – Indian Premiers, Foreign Retrospective, Country Focus and Short Film – would be the responsibility of ESG.