Goemkarponn desk
Panaji: The BJP Government in Goa after coming to power in 2012 has converted the International Film Festival of India in to International Fraud Festival of India and transformed Entertainment Society of Goa into Extravagant Society of Goa, the Congress said today.
The GPCC said the recent announcement of the insensitive BJP Government headed by Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant to screen Goan Konkani and Marathi Films in International Film Festival of India 2021 is a Jumla.
“We want to warn the Government that if the Films of the Goan Film Makers are not included in the Official Section of IFFI, Congress Party will hold strong protests at the IFFI venue demanding justice for the local film fraternity,” stated Congress Media Cell Chairman Amarnath Panjikar.
“Our Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat had already raised the issue and had urged the Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant to ensure that Goan films are screened in Official Section of IFFI. Unfortunately, his demand is not considered by the BJP,” stated Panjikar.
Reacting to the press release of ESG with a condition of minimum four entries in each section, Panjikar said that “even if a single entry comes, ESG must screen the film on Official Section of IFFI”.
“It is loud and clear that the bankrupt BJP Government has no funds to help the local film fraternity of Goa. Clause 9 of the Regulations issued by the Entertainment Society of Goa and uploaded on its Official Website clearly states that “Producers will not be entitled for any Financial Assistance as per the Film Finance Scheme for the screening of the film in this Special Goan Premier Section Konkani/Marathi Feature and Non- Feature Films during the 52nd IFFI, 2021”,” he said.
He said the above clause clearly exposes the fact that the so called “Special Goan Premier and Non- Premier Section for Konkani /Marathi Feature and Non-Feature Films is nothing but a “Filmy Tamasha”.
The films screened in the said section will not be considered under Official Screening of the International Film Festival of India, said Amarnath Panjikar.
It may be noted that under Clause 8 (c) of Film Finance Scheme of the Goa Government, those Features Films which are screened in IFFI are eligible for getting an assistance of Rs. 5 Lakhs and Non-Feature Films are eligible to get an assistance of Rs. 2.5 Lakhs under Goa Film Finance Scheme.
The BJP has kept the Film Finance Scheme dormant for almost last 5 years. ESG and IFFI have become grazing ground for the BJP Party Functionaries who are involved in massive scams. We are keeping a close watch on the tendering process of IFFI 2021. We have preliminary information that there is huge scam of almost 25 Crores. We will expose the corrupt practices and illegalities soon stated Amarnath Panjikar.
