15 Nov : “The versatile cine actors Ms. Rekha and Mr. Kamal Hassan will be the Chief Guest of Opening and Closing ceremonies, respectively, in upcoming International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2008, besides the presence of the Governor of Goa, Shri. S.S Siddhu; the Chief Minister, Shri. Digamber Kamath and the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Shri. Anand Sharma “ announced Shri S.M. Khan Addl. D.G. & Director of Film Festivals here today.
Eminent Actress Ms. Amrita Rao will do the compeering on the inaugural day. The other Film luminary to join on the occasion as special guest is Telgu Actress of Goan origin, Ms. Illina D.Cruz.The competition section will witness the presence of 15 films from all over the world. These include My Mother’s Tears (Argentina/Germany), Rupantor (Transfomration) (Bangladesh), The Shaft (China), Kanachivaram and Mahasatta (India), The Song of Sparrows (Iran), The Red Spot (Japan/Germany), Tulpan (Kazakhstan), Pensil (Malaysia), Ploning (Philippines) , Akasa Kusum (Sri Lanka), The Coffin (Thailand) etc.
Film India Worldwide is anther attraction in the cinema of world section, which will showcase films made by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in collaboration with foreign filmmakers. The Entries in this segment are Tandoori Love (Switzerland), Death Without Consent (USA), Barah Aana and Chaurasta-Cross Roads of Love (India). The films of Aki Kaurismaki (Finland), John Landis (USA) and Wong Kar Wai (Hong Kong) will be screened in Foreign Retrospective.
Besides, there will be a special tribute to Niki Karimi and Peter Chan.
In addition, there will be 47 films (26 Feature Films and 21 Non-Feature ) in Indian Panorama. Films of all-time veterans Dilip Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, B. Saroja Devi and Tapan Sinha will be presented in Lifetime Classics. The Festival will also pay homage to G.P.Sippy, B.R.Chopra, F.C.Mehra, Jayashree Gadkar, Raghuvaran, Mahendra Kapoor Jeeva, Sridhar, Vijay Tendulkar and Nabendu Ghosh.
Taj Mahal : A Celluloid Journey will screen films based on Taj Mahal – Shiraj (silent film)- 1928, Shah Jahan –1964, Taj Mahal –1963 and Taj Mahal –2005.