The Hindu Business Line : Goa gets ready for film show

In an attempt to compete with Cannes Film Festival, the State has in almost record time put forward its best foot forward by upgrading its screening facilities, creating a promenade and sprucing up the city.

The Chief Minister of Goa, Mr Manohar Parrikar, must have sighed in relief after the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry today finally expressed satisfaction over the preparedness of the coastal State.

After a review meeting, it has been decided that Goa would become the permanent venue for the festival and the memorandum of understanding (MoU) would be revisited after the festival. Earlier, an MoU was signed making the erstwhile Portuguese colony the sight for IFFI 2004.

Mr Parrikar said that about Rs 120 crore was spent on preparing the venue for the festival, of which Rs 60 crore was utilised for readying the infrastructure. He added that these investments would benefit the entire town and the returns would come in the form of increase in tourist inflows.

Speaking to Business Line, Mr Sanjit Rodrigues, Nodal Officer, IFFI, Goa-2004 and CEO Entertainment Society of Goa, said that a brand new four screen multiplex has been built, the Kala Academy has been refurbished and a rustic promenade along the Mandovi river has been built.

"An exquisite wooden jetty has been built to ferry the guest to the venue," he added. Along with this, a Film Bazaar has been planned by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to facilitate trade and business.

Mr Rodrigues added that infrastructure has been readied in a short span of time as a result of effective public private partnership. "The idea is to provide and eventually also promote Goa as a filming locale. We want even foreign film-makers to come down here to shoot," he said.

So even as there is speculation on whether Mira Nair would premier her Reese Witherspoon-starrer Vanity Fair in India or not, Goa is sure of attracting some big names in showbiz.