Goa: Not just cinema, Iffi inaugural celebrates vaccination drive

PANAJI: Cinema and the Covid-19 vaccine found common ground at the opening ceremony of the 51st International Film Festival of India in Goa, as the event became a celebratory occasion for the launch of the historic inoculation drive.
Union information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar said that while January 2020 saw the first Covid-19 case reported in India, January 2021 marks the beginning of the end of the pandemic in the country.
“See the talent, intelligence, and determination of the human race,” Javadekar said. “There was faith that any challenge can be overcome. India will win and Covid-19 will lose. I am already inviting you for the 52nd Iffi in November this year, where you will see the stadium filled to the brim with people, and there will be unending applause ringing through the stadium.”
The muted opener had only 300 persons due to guidelines associated with the pandemic.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant, I&B additional secretary Neerja Sekhar and festival director Chaitanya Prasad were among others to acknowledge the beginning of the vaccination programme in India.
We are starting this year on a very positive note,” Sawant said in his address.
"We have received the first batch of vaccines for our frontline workers. From the grand stage of Iffi, I extend my sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the tremendous efforts to bring India out of the grip of the pandemic and its socio-economic impact. Even as many countries are looking at another lockdown as the only option, our PM has taken up (this) massive vaccination drive.”
He added that health and hygiene would receive priority at Iffi 2021 to ensure the safety of participating guests and delegates.
Javadekar later announced that from the next edition of Iffi, in November, the entire event would be held with joint investment from the government and the private sector.
“Iffi is being organised every year with funding from the government of India and the Goa government. Why is it so?" he asked. "There should be participation from the film industry and other industries as well. The government funds it because it wants to promote art and culture. But it does not mean this is the sole responsibility of the government. That is why I invite private participation, and we will see this from the 52nd Iffi itself.”
As Iffi is being held this year in a hybrid format, with films being screened in both physical and online formats, Javadekar opened the virtual ‘Film Bazaar’ this year.
While the Union minister urged filmmakers to take up more film shootings within India, stating that the country has 500 sights to delight cinematographers as against Switzerland’s 50, the Goa CM asked the film fraternity to invest in Goa, assuring single-window clearance for projects.
As 'International Jury' head for the 51nd Iffi, Pablo Caesar, and this year’s lifetime achievement awardee, Italian cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, among others, participated virtually at the festival, the opening ceremony too ended up a combination of the physical and the virtual.
“We are going to set the standard for other festivals on how a physical and online festival can be held simultaneously,” said festival director Prasad, as many international film festivals have faced postponement due to the pandemic.
At this festival, which will close on January 24 as per its delayed schedule, there will be over 200 films screened — 119 in the physical format and the rest through Iffi’s own OTT platform. Of these movies, 85 are premieres.
“Even as the pandemic has dimmed lights on many events worldwide, Iffi shines bright,” said Sekhar, the additional secretary.
Kannada film star and chief guest for opening ceremony, Sudeep, after inaugurating the festival, said, “Let cinema be the new pandemic and let the show go on.”
As the neighbouring country of Bangladesh is this Iffi’s ‘country in focus’, Javadekar told the country’s high commissioner to India, Muhammad Imran, who was present as guest for the opening event, that a joint film by India and Bangladesh will be launched soon on the father of the friendly nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Veteran Indian film actor Bishwajit Chatterjee will be given the Indian film personality of the year award this year, which will be presented later around March and not as usual at the Iffi closing ceremony due to the pandemic, Javadekar announced.
This year, only 2,200 delegates will participate in Iffi's physical form due to pandemic restrictions, Sawant said.