The 44th International Film Festival of India, IFFI begins in Panaji, Goa today with Academy Award winning actor, Susan Sarandon inaugurating the 11-day event at a specially erected hangar, at Campal. Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi along with Indian film personalities Asha Bhosle, Kamal Haasan and Rekha will be present on the occasion as guests of honour.
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will play hosts at the mega film event for various film personalities as well as nearly 10,000 delegates.
The inaugural ceremony will witness presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Czech film director, Jiri Menzel whose film Don Juans (Donsajni) has been selected as the opening film of IFFI 2013. The film will be screened at the Kala Academy auditorium after conclusion on the opening ceremony.
Celebrated actress, Waheeda Rehman will receive the Indian Film Personality of the Year Award instituted from this year in commemoration of the completion of 100 years of Indian cinema.
The opening ceremony will have a number of cultural programmes including a dance presentation by the troupe of leading Kathak exponent Birju Maharaj and a sitar recital by the well-known sitar player, Ustad Nishad Khan.
A total of 326 films – both Indian and foreign – from around 74 countries will be screened during the film festival.