All good things must come to an end.
It’s curtains down for the 36th International Film Festival of India today, but not without Goa having had her fill of fun, festivities and glamour at IFFI Goa 2005. From Red Carpet events like `Iqbal,’ `Apaharan,` Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra,’ `Dubai Return,’ `Deewane Huye Pagal,’`Parzania,’ and `Blue Umbrella,’ Goa played host to the likes of Girish Karnad, Nagesh Kukunoor, Rahul Puri, Ravi Gupta, Prakash Jha, Ajay Devgan, Bipasha Basu, Manmohan Shetty, Alain Chabat, Noemie Lenoir, His Excellency Monsieur Dominique Girard, Regis Wargnier, Irrfan Khan, Rekha, Rajesh Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Camila, Miguel Littin, Thomas Grampp, Kathinka Feisti, Vikram Bhatt, Ruskin Bond, Naseeruddin Shah, Shyam Benegal, Dolores Chaplin among others. It also provided platforms for discussion and interaction for students, technicians and members of the film fraternity at the Film Bazaar and Open Forums for ten successful days. From mobile cinemas, beach screenings, games and rides at the Children’s Park, to an animated Corniche Street and open air concerts for the public at Caranzalem, the event drew people from all walks of life to share one common goal – to make IFFI truly people participative.
Staying true to the international flavour of the film festival, the package of foreign films from China, Sweden, Italy, Germany, Bulgaria, Brazil and France displayed caliber with films like `Olga,’ `Man To Man,’ `Asterix & Obelix,’ `L’Enfant’ running to packed houses, with the French delegation going the whole nine yards to raise the standard of IFFI Goa 2005. Today, talent from across the world will have been honoured and everybody will have carried home a few memories of a place that truly lives up to its name, Goaaaahhhh!
For party animals, polish those suede shoes with the `Goa Music Day Concert’ that unites musicians all across Goa simultaneously with 101 concerts kicking between 4.00pm and 6.00pm at public places across the State. The party culminates at a mega open air concert at Caranzalem featuring Sudesh Bhonsale, Oliver Sean, Ayesha, DJ Platinum, Band of Boys to colourful fireworks, laser shows and the big sound.
For children, head to `Sea & See’ at Candolim Beach and have fun creating your own installations between 4.00pm to 6.00pm. For the rest of Goa, it’s time to celebrate one more feather in our cap.
And yes, au revoir!