'Water' opens Jagran film fest, Akshay attends

The final stage of the 4th Jagran Film Festival, 2013 opened here Tuesday with the Israeli-Palestinian film "Water". Actor-producer Akshay Kumar made it to the opening ceremony.

Akshay, busy promoting his film "Boss" along with actress Nimrat Kaur of "The Lunchbox" fame inaugurated the festival by lighting the lamp. Director Sudhir Mishra also attended.

"It's a pleasure to be here today. A total of 99 films will be screened in four days during this festival. It's really great. I have attended many film festivals but a lot of international films will also be shown in this festival. I hope this festival continues forever and forever," Akshay told reporters.

The jury members for the Indian showcase includes filmmaker Basu Chatterjee, actress-director Aditi Ninad Deshpande, ace cinematographer India Raamachandraah, film editor Suresh Pai and theatre doyen Feroz Abbas Khan.

The festival began in Delhi and travelled to 15 cities before coming to Mumbai. It will showcase films under seven sections: World Panorama, Indian Showcase (In Competition), Jagran Shorts (International and National in Competition), and Jagran Classics - Top 20 films of Indian Cinema, Country Focus (South Korea), Homage to Rituparno Ghosh and Berlinale Shorts.

The festival has also organised a competition for short films with more than 35 entries in various Indian regional languages competing for top honours.

Akshay says he doesn't get time to follow world cinema. He says: "I try to follow world cinema as much as I can but there are around 180 films releasing in a year in the industry, so I try to catch those films as well. I try my best to watch Korean and European films."

The festival will continue till Sep 29 at the Fun Republic Cinema in Andheri west when the prizes will be given.