IFFI theme song, Star studded opening & closing ceremonies, Namaste India Concert, Goa Music Day set to spice up Celebrating IIFI Goa 2005 festivities The 36th Annual International Film Festival of India, the prestigious international film festival to be staged in Goa from Nov 24 to December 4 is all set to be a grand affaire courtesy the festivities that have been planned during the entire duration of the Festival.

This year for the first time, IFFI will showcase a host of special events like the Goa Music Day, Namaste India music concert and street animation among others. These have been planned to spice up the festivities during the entire duration of the Festival and are a part of the ‘Idea Celebrating IFFI Goa 2005' initiative sponsored by Idea Cellular. This fantastic event is being planned and executed by Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd on behalf of Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG).

Speaking on the occasion Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Information & Publicity, Goa said, "Goa is really privileged to stage the IFFI once again. We are also delighted to receive the support of the entire Indian Film Industry. The government is committed to ensuring the grand success of IFFI 2005 and I sincerely hope that the entire event including the series of festivities planned around the main film festival will be liked by local, national and international audiences."

Day one of the ‘Idea Celebrating IFFI Goa 2005' will begin with a colourful pageantry that starts at the Mandovi Bridge. The fanfare will go along the waterfront, past the Kala Academy and finally come to the Grand Stands at the Old Goa Medical College. The festivities will be officially inaugurated by Mr. Pratapsingh Rane, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Goa at an exclusive opening ceremony for VIPs, media across the country and delegates of the film festival.

The fun and fiesta at ‘Idea Celebrating IFFI Goa 2005' continues with the ‘Namaste India Concert' at the Beach Cinema at Caranzalem featuring Shankar Mahadevan and other Indian musicians will be a true celebration of Indian contemporary music. To keep the party and the festivities high Kingfisher, the official product of the festival will be available at every watering hole. The big premieres and Red Carpet of the events will be held at the Inox Multiplex, the official venue for the screenings IFFI Goa 2005.

The ten-day Film festival will have a regular feature of unusual and innovative events like the street animation, laser shows in Caranzalem to showcase picturesque Goa, two mobile cinemas taking the festival to every part of Goa and a Pani projection at Panjim Church. The biggest Bollywood blockbusters including ‘Sarkar', ‘Mangal Pandey- the Rising', ‘Bunty aur Babli' and ‘Salaam Namaste' will be screened at the Beach Cinema in Caranzalem.

On the 25th of November a unique exhibition called Installation Festival will be inaugurated. Goan artist Subodh Kerkar with his exceptional talent will create art with everyday objects like sarees, leaves, mussel shells and vegetables. The Installation festival will be open to the delegates of the film festival and the general public.

The last day of the festival will see the Goa Music Day, celebrating the song and melody of Goa and its people. Through the day, the local Goan musicians will perform at 101 significant places to bring out the true spirit of Goa and every nook and corner will be alive with the sound of celebration!

This special day culminates in the preview of the movie ‘Dubai Return' that will be attended by the stars of the film- Irfan Khan, Divya Dutta, Ritu Shivpuri, director Aditya Bhattacharya and producer Manya Patil.

The opening and closing ceremonies of the event will see performances by the star cast of Sanjay Gupta's film ‘Zinda'- Sanjay Dutt, Lara Dutta and Celina Jaitley. Other performers include Sagarika, Shivani Kashyap, Australian singer Ayesha London's Bandish Project and DJ Platinum and Band of Boys - the Indian and international artists who came together to bring you the fantastic soundtrack to ‘Dubai Return'.

They will be joined by singers Sudesh Bhosale and Oliver Sean.

The 36th Annual International Indian Film Festival will have nearly 200 international and Indian films screened during the eleven-day period. Critically acclaimed international films from Asian, African, European and Latin American countries will be screened along with a number of Indian feature and non-feature films during this mega film festival.

Film screenings for delegates during IFFI 2005 will be held across 4 theatres at the INOX and the majestic nine hundred seating auditorium at the Kala Academy.

In addition to The Kala Academy, screenings will also be held at public theaters and special open-air locations like Caranzalem Water Sports Ground, which are being dressed up to represent the festive ambience, along with innovative mobile cinema screens, which will go across Goa.

A major highlight of IFFI 2005 is a selection of Asian, African and Latin American feature films, highlighting the latest cinematic trends from these regions, being screened before a five member international jury. The main awards which will be presented include: Golden Peacock Award for the ‘Best Film', Silver Peacock for the most promising director and a ‘Special Jury Award' for the director of a film for his individual artistic contribution.