SPECIAL REPORT: International Film Festival of India 2004 in Goa!

Radio Sargam takes a look at the International Film Festival of India 2004, which has been held in Goa this year. Major names attending include Aamir Khan, Subhash Ghai, Karan Johar, Yash Chopra, Dilip Kumar, Shyam Benegal, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Konkona Sen Sharma.

Ashok Amritraj at IFFI 2004
The contribution of Indian born Hollywood Producer Ashok Amritraj will be recognized at the 35th Intl. Film Festival of India in Goa from Nov 29 – 9 Dec, 2004 in a special showcase titled Spotlight on Ashok Amritraj, an Indian Success Story in Hollywood. As Chairman and CEO of Hyde Park Entertainment, Ashok Amritraj is one of the most successful producers in Hollywood today producing four major films per year at budgets that range from $20 - $90 million each is the most successful Indian born Film Producer on Earth. Amritraj’s eighty five films have grossed over two billion dollars in ticket sales terms. Amritraj has never ever attended any IFFI in the past. LALL Entertainment invited him not only to attend IFFI in Goa but also to bring five of his recent films including Bringing Down The House (was number 1 on US Charts for 3 weeks and grossed US$ 250 million), Raising Helen, Moonlight Mile, Bandits and Walking Tall for screening at IFFI 2004 in Goa. LALL Entertainment also requested Ashok Amritraj to be a keynote speaker at CII’s sponsored Cine Mint Conference in Goa.

Mira Nair at IFFI 2004

LALL Entertainment secured Vanity Fair as the opening film for the festival and requested celebrated Indian filmmaker Mira Nair to attend the festival and present her film. Vanity Fair was screened after the cast and crew of the film were presented to the audience.

Alexander at IFFI 2004
In September 2004 LALL Entertainment approached Hollywood’s well known filmmaker Oliver Stone with a request to close the IFFI at Goa with his latest film Alexander. The US $160 million Alexander is partly shot in India (Ladhak). LALL Entertainment met with the film’s producer (Warner Brothers) and distributor (Summit Films) in Los Angeles to secure the film for IFFI 2004 and invite the film’s stars to Goa. LALL Entertainment also requested E City the film’s Indian distributor to Premiere the film at IFFI and organize the Alexander themed cocktail dinner at IFFI on 9th Dec, 2004.

Remembering Ray at IFFI 2004
In view of the 50th anniversary of Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali LALL Entertainment worked on a special section on Ray at IFFI 2004 by screening one of his restored films and inviting Prof. Dilip Basu, the man who handed over Ray the Oscar and an expert on his work as also Tom Luddy, the man behind the independent film movement in USA who was a close friend of Ray. This section will also feature a special talk by on restoration of 14 of Ray’s classics by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars) of Hollywood. At LALL Entertainment’s request two international experts Michael Pogorzelski, Director of AMAPAS Archives and Joseph Lindner who is in charge of Ray restorations AMAPAS are flying to Goa.

David Lean Masterpieces at IFFI 2004
LALL Entertainment approached Sony Picture Entertainment (SPE) in Hollywood in September, 2004 and requested them to loan to IFFI David Lean’s masterpieces for screening at Goa. At LALL Entertainment’s request SPE agreed to give IFFI the timeless classics Lawrence of Arabia and Bridge On The River Kwai for special screenings at IFFI 2004 in Goa.

Canadian Package at IFFI 2004
In addition to the above LALL Entertainment secured a special package of five films from Canada through Telefilm Canada. This package has the 2004 Foreign Language Oscar winner The Barbarian Invasion, and also includes the recent films of critical acclaim The Grand Seduction, Ararat and Daniel and the Superdogs. Canadian Cinema Legend Rock Demers has agreed to attend IFFI in Goa and present the Canadian Showcase.

Best of World Cinema at IFFI 2004
LALL Entertainment also secured the Indian Premieres of Finding Neverland, Things you do before you turn 30 (PVR Group), Motorcycle Diaries, Lost in Translation and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (WEG India).

On the occasion of the 35th edition of IFFI in Goa, Bhuvan Lall, President of LALL Entertainment says, “In my association with the International Entertainment Industry for over eighteen years I have never felt more positive about the future of the Indian Film, Television and Animation business as now. Countries around the world including China, South Korea, Japan and even Singapore are pushing ahead with entertainment as a driver for their economies. IFFI must celebrate Indian Cinematic Creativity like never before. Indian Entertainment Industry has far greater potential than we can fathom now and it is likely to become one of the main catalysts for India’s economic growth in the years to come.”