The Hon’ble Governor of Goa, Shri Bhagat Singh Koshiyari announced, “Cinema comes not from the mind but from the heart, film festivals like IFFI remind us that the world is one,” he addressed at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, in Talegaon, Goa today on January, 24, 2021. Veteran Bollywood actor Ms. Zeenat Aman and Shri Ravi Kishan were the Guests of honour, while veteran actor, director and producer Biswajit Chatterjee has been presented with the Indian Personality of the Year Award at the IFFI 51.
The closing ceremony of the 51st edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa got off to a sparkling start where the other dignitaries were Chief Minister of Goa Dr. Pramod Sawant, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change Shri Babul Supriyo too graced the closing ceremony, along with a host of dignitaries from various spheres of life.
The Governor lauded the organizers for holding the festival, despite the extraordinary times in which we are going through. “Cinema is uniting not only our country, but our neighbouring countries as well. I salute Indian cinema and filmmakers. Film festival is an opportunity to learn and to remind us that the whole world is one, despite differences. Cinema touches the heart, not the mind; it comes not from the mind but from the heart.”
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Shri Babul Supriyo said this edition of IFFI has conquered all ifs and buts and has emerged as the perfect platform for excellence. “IFFI 51 is a one-of-kind achievement, given that we organized this in a hybrid mode amidst the pandemic. The festival edition has conquered all ifs and buts to ensure that there is no if when it comes to ensuring the bonding and closeness between us human beings. The big screen entertains, makes us cry and makes us life in a different manner, when great directors make films to enlighten and entertain us. It also magnifies all the emotions we have. India, which makes the largest number of films in the world, has gotten together with the rest of the world to celebrate cinema.”
“This year, cinema came to us in different forms”, the Minister said, congratulating IFFI for holding the festival in hybrid mode. “Despite the pandemic, the 51st edition showcased films from 60 countries. The edition has given a global roadmap of excellence. We are excited in a New India and we believe the show must go on.”
Recounting some of the notable features of this edition, the Minister said: “We had Bangladesh as the focus country for this year’s edition. We paid a wholesome tribute to the legendary Satyajit Ray. We paid homage to 19 film personalities who passed away last year. Artists live on in celluloid, they never die.” The Minister observed that Indian cinema has emerged as a medium with immense soft power.
The 51st International Film Festival of India 2021 witnessed more than 126 films from 60 countries which included 50 Indian premiers, 22 Asian premiers, 7 World premieres and 6 international premiers.
Bangladesh was the focus country of the festival this year and films Rupsa Nodir Banke and Jibandhuli directed by Tanvir Mokammel, Meghmallar by Zahidur Rahman Anjan, Under Construction by Rubaiyat Hossain and Sincerely Yours, Dhaka by Nuhash Humanyun, Syed Ahmed Shawki and 9 other individual directors were screened at the IFFI 51 festival.
The first ever hybrid edition of IFFI 51 had the best of recent International cinema, along with special sections such as International Retrospective, Festival Kaleidoscope, World Panorama and special screenings.
Masterclasses and In-conversation sessions, which have been the highlight of IFFI over the years, were held virtually. Renowned film personalities like International Competition Jury Chairman Pablo Cesar (from Argentina), Shekhar Kapur, Subhash Ghai, Priyadarshan, Rahul Rawail, Sidharth Roy Kapur, and Prasanna Vithanage (from Sri Lanka) shared their valuable experiences through these sessions.
KARMA BOOMERANG – The Doting Father
A short thriller film. How much would a man bend his ethics to see his daughter’s happiness? Karma Boomerang – A Doting father is a short thriller film with a twist in the tale.
