Goemkarponn desk
Margao – Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat has said that Goan films must be screened in the official section of IFFI 2021.
“It is most unfortunate that BJP Government wakes up every year only after raising our demand for a Special Section for screening Goan Films in the International Film Festival of India. Shockingly, the Chairman of the Entertainment Society of Goa has openly admitted in the section of media that he is unaware of Films produced in Goa after IFFI 2020. I demand that Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant must intervene to ensure the Screening of Goan Films in Official Sections of IFFI 2021,” stated Kamat.
He said the Film Finance Scheme was initiated through Entertainment Society of Goa by Congress Government to promote Local Films. From 2005 to 2011, maximum Goan Films were screened in Official Sections of IFFI. Unfortunately BJP Government after coming to power in 2012 kept the Scheme dormant & reduced the role of ESG to Travel & Hospitality Agent of IFFI .
“How will the local filmmakers produce films when the government is not providing them with any assistance? questioned Digambar Kamat. I am told that the payments under the Scheme are not made to many producers whose films were screened way back in IFFI 2011. The government kept the Scheme dormant for reasons best known to them,” he said.
He said that he had five official programming sections of IFFI under complete control of ESG between 2008 to 2011.
“We launched “Goa on Celluloid” section exclusively for screening of Goan Films. During my government, maximum benefits were given to local film makers and maximum Goan films were screened in official sections of IFFI which helped local film producers claim additional benefits under Film Finance Scheme,” Digambar Kamat stated.
Goan film-makers have excelled at the International level with many Goan films getting selected for screening in various international film festivals. ESG cannot be ignorant about film industry in Goa. It is the responsibility of the ESG to ensure that maximum benefits are received by local film fraternity from ESG as well as IFFI, Digambar Kamat said.
