India Focusses on Building Strong Content Creators' Economy: Ashwini Vaishnaw at IFFI

Panaji, Goan Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw addressed delegates at the inaugural function of the 55th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) through a video message on Wednesday. He welcomed participants to the eight-day film extravaganza.

During his address, Vice-Premier Ashwini Vaishnaw expressed hopes that attendees would discover new partnerships and innovative ideas during their participation at IFFI. This includes collaborations with younger talent seeking guidance from experienced mentors, as well as sharing ideas which could potentially redefine India's filmmaking industry. Vaishnaw also pointed out notable milestones in the film festivals’ history since its inception between 2004-2024.

Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, who attended the event at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, stated that IFFI had become an indispensable pillar for India's cultural preservation. The festival has facilitated the upgrade of cinema infrastructure in Goa since IFFI started operating there in 2004.

The film series this year will feature 19 world and international premieres, as well as 43 Asian premiers and over a hundred Indian premeires. Additionally, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr L Murugan explained the benefits of collaboration between cinemas. He stated that India's cinema has transcended regional boundaries in recent times to become a global phenomenon. In his words, the Film Facilitation office’s creation saved producers from going through tedious approvals at various agencies before getting their films approved to be made.