Brazilian hottie `Olga' steals hearts at IFFI Goa 2005  
 

IFFI Goa 2005 can't seem to have enough of Olga.
Brazil's official entry for the Best Foreign Film Oscar this year, director Jayme Monjardim 's first feature length movie `Olga' is perhaps the first time that a movie has been asked -- by popular demand -- to be screened at the Inox, three times in a row. Actress Camila surely is a woman much in demand. Set against the Nazi holocaust, the movie explores a Olga's trails in a Gestapo's women's prison, her horrors in a Nazi concentration camp where she is finally killed. For those who
missed it twice, you're third time lucky at 12.15pm, Inox, today.
If Jackie Shroff, Rupa Ganguly, Shyam Benegal catching the action at the Kala Academy and Corniche are to be believed, Goa is the best place to be. A red carpet cat call goes out to Nagesh Kukunoor, Nasseruddin Shah, Girish Karnad who will take to the microphone to announce the triumphs of ` Iqbal ' at 6.00pm at the Inox today. Iqbal is a story of hope and self belief. The deaf and mute son of a farmer who dared to dream of playing cricket and making it to the Indian cricket team as a bowler, with little help from his family.
French director and also member of the international jury, Alain Corneau will head the Master's Class at the Inox along with Madhur Bhandarkar , 12.30pm today.
For music buffs, Goa's own rock and pop band Renegade gets going at Caranzalem, and Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta's Australian love caper ` Salaam Namaste ' hits the big screen taking you with them on a fun-filled journey of masti .
And while we're on Rajesh Khanna who opened director Hrishikesh Mukherjee's retrospective with `Anand' yesterday , the heartthrob still turns on the charm and Goa knows just why Sameera Reddy is the bombshell she is, after paparazzi swamped the actress for quotes and one liners on IFFI. We're like this only at the movies!

 
 
 

Rimmi Sen, actress

“I'm glad that the people of Goa enjoyed the movie (Deewane Huye Pagal). A lot of hard work went into its making. We love you Goa .”

 
 

Om Puri, actor

“Twenty years ago I said that the IFFI should be held in Goa . Before we had to beg for foreign films to be screened. Now that it is in Goa , they will come to us.”

 
 
 

Plant Man
Horticulturist Daniel D'Souza takes the spotlight at the ` Fontainhas Festival of the Arts ' with his collection of little beings, lovingly cared, watered and nourished. A pioneer in the field of Bonsai cultivation in Goa , he will give a bonsai cultivation demonstration at the Fundacao Orient gardens, 5.30 pm till November 29.
Daniel has also garned a reputation for himself for having trained nearly 150 students all over Goa and has had three major Bonsai Exhibitions in North Goa and South Goa .
Speaking on the `History of Bonsai,' Daniel will take the audience through a guided tour of some basic styles in bonsai, on how to create an aesthically beautiful bonsai, suitable plants, conditioning of soil, potting, wiring, regular maintenance and disease control, and the technique of how to coax giants of the forest to rest in the palm of your hand.

Fundacao Orient Garden , 5.30pm till November 29.

 
 

Blaaze, rap artist

“ Goa is beautiful. Goa is so well advanced that it has the capacity and the equipment to organize such a gala event.”
 
 
 

 

  
 

Artist: Blaaze
Location: 36 th International Film Festival of India , Goa Commentator: Keith Gama

 
 

* How do you feel about coming and participating in the 36th International Film Festival of India ?
It's an honor to be a part of the Film Festival. It is a way of showing our support and solidarity because this is not a national film festival but an International Festival which deals with diverse cultures. Goa feels like any other place like Mauritius , Singapore or any place in the world. We do not need go far for an international ambience.

* What is it that you like about Goa ?
Goa is as beautiful. Goa is so well advanced that it has the capacity and the equipment to organize such a gala event.

* Are you happy with the treatment of IFFI this year?
Everything has been handled well and I and happy to be here. I wouldn't mind coming to this place off and on. Everything is really good.

* What is your experience of the people of Goa ?
The people of Goa are really chilled-out people. There is no stress where work is concerned. Though everything is laid back and relaxed, work still gets done. That's why I said Goa is the right destination for a film festival.

FESTIVAL BOOKMARK
  NOVEMBER 27th
  • Corniche (4.00pm-9.30pm): Street Animations, Bands and Interactive Activities
  • Children's Park (4.00pm-7.00pm): Fancy Dress Competition for children between 6-13 years, Entertainment
  • Multiplex Courtyard (10.00am-10.00pm): Food Court , Entertainment, Movie Screening Premier of `Iqbal'
  • Caranzalem (6.00pm-10.00pm): Musical concert by Goan band `Renegade' and screening of ‘Salaam Namaste'
  • Kala Academy (10.00am-10.00pm): Entertainment, Movie Screening
  • Mobile Cinema (7.00pm-10.00pm): Quepem `Daulat' and Ponda `No Entry'
  • Candolim Beach (6.00pm-11.00pm) Installation Festival by Subodh Kerkar
  • Fontainhas (4.00pm -10.00pm) Festival of the Arts. A unique festival of art and heritage which turns private heritage homes into public art exhibition galleries
PUBLIC SCREENING

Osia Bollywood, Margao:

  • The Myth (11.00am)
  • Buenos Aires 100 Km (2.00pm)
  • The Hangman (5.00pm)
  • Lemming (8.00pm)

Osia Hollywood, Margao:

  • Perumazhakkalam (9.00am)
  • Antarmahal (12.00pm)
  • Laaz (3.00pm )
  • Raam (6.00pm)
 

We will rock you!

So said the super-duper Bollywood trio of Shankar Mahavan, Eshaan and Loy at the Caranzalem grounds to a packed audience of over one lakh people. Belting out popular Bollywood blockbusters with gusto, the show brought Dona Paula to a virtual halt as the trio took center stage and the crowds cheered on wholeheartedly. At the Inox, Bollywood bombshell Sameera Reddy sizzled to flashbulbs, while actor Rajesh Khanna demurely faced the press after opening the retrospective to Hrishikesh Mukherjee 's retrospective with the screening of `Anand.'