Sixth Pune international film festival begins Jan 10

Pune, Jan 5 (IANS) The city will be treated to a week-long bonanza of good cinema with the sixth Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) kicking off Jan 10.

The festival, to showcase over 170 films, will be inaugurated by Minister of Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi and the Mayor of Pune, Rajlaxmi Bhosle.

PIFF has the distinction of being the only Indian film festival which awards cash prizes in its competition section of world cinema, and this year Rs.3.2 million will be awarded. The jury has short-listed 15 international films from a kitty of 145 from over 43 countries. Eight Marathi films have also been short-listed.

Director PIFF, Jabbar Patel told media persons: 'This year, noted film director Subhash Ghai's Whistling Woods International has announced four cash awards for winners in the students' film competition section and animated films.'

Sharmila Tagore and Shammi Kapoor will be the recipients of PIFF lifetime achievement awards.

INOX and E-Square, among the best cinema halls of the city, will be screening the movies. The presence of Film and Television Institute of India and National Film Archives of India always ensures packed houses during the festival here.

According to Patel: 'Last year, about 3,000 cinema enthusiasts attended the festival and this year we are expecting close to 5,000 people.'

There will be a Hindi-Mainstream section with the six best movies of 2007; the country focus will have 11 films from Germany, three from Italy, five from Hungary and 12 from France. The Indian panorama will showcase 15 regional language films. Besides, the National Film Archives of India will screen seven of its most humorous movies.

The Retro section of PIFF will have five films directed by Shyam Benegal, seven films of the famous German director Alexander Kloog and 11 films of Pedro Almodóvar of Spain.

Movies of the Lifetime Achievement winners will also be screened.