Mr Mohan Siroya veteran journalist and friend sent me this exclusive on his experience and comments of the IFFI GOA 2010, to be published on Sachiniti.
A DETAILED ANALYTICAL REPORT FROM MOHAN SIROYA
A DETAILED ANALYTICAL REPORT FROM MOHAN SIROYA
A COMEDY OF ERRORS AND MIS-MANAGEMENT GALORE, LACK OF FESTIVAL SPIRIT AND INFERIOR QUALITY OF SELECTED FILMS FOR “CINEMA OF THE WORLD” OBSERVED FROM START TO FINISH
IFFI 2009 -Goa perhaps had come out of teething troubles as it was better organized with large number of quality films. So this year the expectations were high about the fest ,but what the delegates and media saw was a complete chaos till first 3 days .
- As per long standing practice of the fest, directorate used to screen a few shows of foreign films two days prior to inauguration day for the press/media to enable them to taste the palate before hand to build up arousal .This year those who reported earlier had to cool their heels in disappointment as no shows were kept. On the prior day of inauguration, of course there were screenings BUT ALL OF INDIAN PANORAMA films. None cared to inform before hand or afterwards why?
- Boards were put prominently debarring carrying of any food and “beverage” inside auditorium. Funnily the security staff continued to include our own “Warm water bottles” as beverage. I had asked the CM and Festival Director in the first press conference as to what security risk , a senior citizen carrying his /her own warm water bottle will pose besides denying a normal human facility, the CM had agreed that it should be allowed and accordingly had told the Director . Unfortunately the security was an authority unto itself being 3 tier viz; CISF ,local police and theatre guards with zero co-0rdination. Festival Directorate and the local sponsors – Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) supposed to provide facilitation of infrastructure appeared to be at loggerheads with all other coordinating agencies. Even co-ordination lacked between the media centre (managed by PIB),directorate and the CEO of ESG- Goa. ESG CEO promised many things for facilitation and comforts but very few were fulfilled. Because there was a facility for a daily delegate , local children or those less than 18 years even got registered and attended although legally they can not view “A” or uncensored festival films.
- First organizers decided to open computerized ticketing only on the morning of first day of fest(23rd). Delegates and media had to protest since the screenings were scheduled at 9 a.m. Then the booking started earlier day on 22 nd( before inauguration) but neither the printed Schedule with film code no. nor the film catalogues were available . By evening only the Indian Panorama Films catalogue was made available sans cinema of the world catalogue . Hence for the first two days, we had to select the films to watch only on “Guess”. A few of the media persons could not get the catalogue even after 3 days because of shortage and lack of communication. DFF , who was responsible for that could not explain the delay. Less said the better about the “Incomplete Info” in the World Cinema catalogue. There was neither any film indexing for convenience nor any credit/award details were mentioned about the films which can reflect on the quality of films. Compared to this shoddy and delayed work, the catalogue of Indian Panorama films was much better in all respects. (more…)
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