IFFI’s 51st edition in Goa

Special Desk

Lucknow: The 51st International Film Festival of India (IFFI), will be opening in Goa this year with the Indian Premiere of Thomas Vinterberg’s ‘Another Round,’ starring Cannes Best Actor Award Winner Mads Mikkelsen on January 16. The historical drama “Wife of a Spy” by Kiyoshi Kurosawa will bring the film festival to its conclusion on January 24.

The film Another Round is Denmark’s official entry to the Oscars. The Japanese film, which bagged the Silver Lion for Best Director at Venice International Film Festival, will have its India Premiere at IFFI.

(IFFI, founded in 1952, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. Held annually the festival aims at providing a common platform for the cinemas of the world to project the excellence of the film art. Contributing to the understanding and appreciation of film cultures of different nations in the context of their social and cultural ethos and promoting friendship.

The festival is conducted jointly by the Directorate of Film Festivals (under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) and the state Government of Goa.

The first edition of IFFI was organised by the Films Division, Government of India, with the patronage of the first Prime Minister of India. Held in Mumbai from January 24 to February 1, 1952 the festival was subsequently taken to Madras, Delhi, Calcutta and Trivandrum. In all it had about 40 features and 100 short films. In Delhi, the IFFI was inaugurated by Prime Minister Pt Jawaharlal Nehru on 21 February 1952.

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The first edition was non-competitive, had 23 countries including the United States participating with 40 feature films and about a hundred short films. The Indian entries for the festival were Awara (Hindi), Patala Bhairavi (Telugu), Amar Bhoopali (Marathi) and Babla (Bengali). This was the first International Film Festival held anywhere in Asia.

The notable films shown during the festival were Bicycle Thieves, Miracle in Milan, Rome, Open City from Italy. Yukiwarisoo (Japan), The Dancing Fleese (UK), The River (USA) and The Fall of Berlin (USSR).