FTII People

Namaste from Pune International Film Festival 2010!

Pune is rapidly growing as one of the premier cities of India. Prominent establishments of filmmaking like Prabhat Film Studio (established in 1933), Film and Television Institute of India and the National Film Archives of India are a few names among several international centers of learning that have made Pune their home. A large number of multinational companies representing the automobile and software industry thrive here in the city along with these centers of Culture and Education. Pune has a very large influx of foreign students, professionals and academicians from across the world that are engaged in diverse fields, fostering a rich culture of International Cinema. Newly built multiplexes providing state of the art viewing facilities along with a discerning movie going audience makes Pune the ideal place to host an International Film Festival.

Pune International Film Festival [PIFF] was launched in 2002. It was an instant success. From a niche festival that debuted in 2002 with 50 films from 8 countries, PIFF screened a spectacular collection of 150 films from 42 countries in 2008.

Since then this annual Film festival has gone from strength to strength and has even added a Competition section to it repertoire. Over the last five years a wide spectrum of contemporary international cinema has been presented along with the retrospectives of Andreas Dresen, Jorge Pollaco, Vera Chytilova, Jiri Menzel, Mani Ratnam, Alain Resnais, Doron Eran, Aki Kaurismaki, Fatih Akin and Raj Kapoor. Another special feature of the festival has been to honour the luminaries of Indian cinema for their contribution to the field. The audience has appreciated these innovations in programming and the numbers have been increasing with every festival year.

We are currently inviting entries for our 8th edition.  It is in this regard that I wish to contact you.  The 8th Pune International Film Festival 2010, India in association with the Government of Maharashtra will be held from 7th – 14th January 2010. The following awards are given in the World Competition Section for Feature Films:

Best Film – Cash Award around $20,000 (INR. 10,00,000),

Best Director – Cash Award of around $10,000 (INR. 5,00,000)

We request you to send the DVD screener (with English subtitles) of your film to be put forth to the Festival Selection Committee for World Competition section along with the entry form. The entries should reach us NO later than 30th October, 2009. Films which have been shown in other competitions and festivals can be entered. If your film is selected in competition, The Pune International Film Festival DOES NOT PAY ANY SCREENING FEE but the Director or Producer or the Lead Actor\Actress are invited to the festival and Boarding/Lodging expenses and Airfares are paid for by PIFF. There will be an international jury to judge the film for the Award. The Winning Film is felicitated at the Closing night Gala and is awarded a cash prize for Best Film and Best Director along with the Festival trophy.

PIFF is attended by a large crowd of enthusiastic movie buffs and your film will be assured of good exposure and wide publicity.

Rules, Regulations and the Entry Form are available online on our website: www.puneinternationalfilmfestival.com. You can send in your entry online http://www.puneinternationalfilmfestival.com/entry_login.php

The last date for entries is 30th October 2009.

Please feel free to contact us either by email or at 020-24464545.

We look forward to your participation.

Warm Regards,

Jabbar Patel

Dr. Jabbar Patel

Director

Pune International Film Festival

Marathon Bhavan, near Mitra Mandal Colony,

Opp: Parvati Post-Office, Parvati,

Pune- 411 009

Tel: +91 20 24464545/ 6

Fax: +91 20 24468788

PIFF 2010 is the official festival of Government of Maharashtra as a joint venture with Pune Film Foundation. We are grateful for this unstinted support which strengthens our belief that PIFF has the potential to become one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world.

PIFF 2010 will be held from 7th to 14th January 2010 and will display its cinematic universality to a host of film personalities, celebrities, press, technical delegates and movie buffs from across the world.

Film is a highly universal medium that cuts across nationalities connecting diverse peoples. The Pune International Film Festival aspires to be amongst the leaders in bringing some of the best films from across the world to India. In addition to screening films we would also like to be the platform for discussions, net-working, film events and workshops and of course world-class competitions. We would like to be a part of the universal creative exchange of ideas and forge collaboration with other film entities across the world. With its worthy partners and innovative initiatives in place, the Pune International Film Festival is all set to be India’s window to the world.

PIFF will hold competitions for diverse segments with attractive cash prizes. Firstly this is the ONLY film festival in India that has instituted cash awards for international cinema. Secondly, the Sant Tukaram Award for Marathi (regional) films is an idea that has been pioneered by Government of Maharashtra and has since been followed by the other states as good practice. PIFF also honours luminaries of the film world by presenting the prestigious Life Time Achievement Awards for their outstanding contribution to Indian cinema. The festival, like all its past editions, will bring forth the multi-hued film talent, celebrate cinema and most importantly present a common platform for the world of film art.

Come let’s take a step ahead towards the endless sojourn of cinematic creativity.

Festival Website is here

Entry forms are here

About PIFF

Pune International Film Festival — History

Pune is among the fastest growing cosmopolitans in India today. The presence of the highly-regarded FTII (Film and Television Institute of India) has allowed Pune to be at the nerve centre of creating fresh talent for the film industry. The presence of the FTII also fits in with Pune’s overall standing of being an educational city and the “Oxford of the East”. Completing the film connection of the city is the presence of the historic and well-stocked National Film Archive of India is also situated in Pune.

Pune has a history of being at the forefront of cinema. This standing has been further bolstered with the growth of multiplexes in and around the city that now cater to the film lovers of the city. Given the multi-cultural mix of population with varied interests, Pune provides an ideal base for an International Film Festival.

The Pune International Film Festival was launched in pursuit of bringing the “best in celluloid” to the audiences of Pune in 2002 with it’s first truly “International Film Festival”. It has been evolving as a major annual event.

With six editions already done, 2009, the 7th edition promises more variety, more movies and greater insight and entertainment into the international cinematic world. We hope you are a part of this journey.

PIFF 2002:

The first Pune International Film Festival was a great success; 1800 delegates were enrolled to experience this international festival. More than 50 pictures were screened from 8 countries. A great director “Mrinal Sen” & a legendary actor “Dilip Kumar” were awarded the Lifetime Achievement award for their outstanding contributions, in the field of Indian cinema.

The Inaugural films that received wide acclaim at the festival was, “Grill Point” (German) – (Silver Bear and Special Jury Award Berlinale 2002) the film was presented by its director Andre Dresen, “Taking Sides” (Hungarian), Rain “The Son’s Room” & others received serious attention from the audience.

PIFF 2003:

The Pune International Film Festival that was held in 2003 had more than 80 pictures, from 10 countries. The opening film was “No Man’s Land” (which won the Oscar for the Best Foreign Film) – a war film from Bosnia-Heerzegovina and the closing film was “Warriors of the Heaven and Earth” (A Japanese classic, with film theme composed by Mr. A.R.Rehman, India) In second Pune International Film Festival the Lifetime Achievement awards were given to “Smt. Lata Mangeshkar” – the Nightingale of India and “Dev Anand” one of the greatest Hindi Film Star ever produced.

PIFF 2005:

The PIFF came back with renewed vigour and enthusiasm in 2005 with more than 95 pictures, from 14 countries. The festival was Inaugurated by His Excellency S. M. Krishna, Governor of Maharashtra, His Excellency Dominique Girard, Ambassador of France.

Smt. Waheeda Rehman and Shri Shakti Samanta were presented with the Lifetime Achievement by Shri Jaipal Reddy Hon. Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Government of India.

Some Oscar contenders were screened at this festival like – South Africa’s – Yesterday, Afghanistan’s – Earth & Ashes, and India’s – Shwaas. “Yesterday” won the Award for Best Film and the Best Director went to Josue Mendez for the film “Dias de Santiago” (Days of Santiago) Peru.

Special Jury Award for the Best Film went to “Earth and Ashes, Afghanistan/France, the Best Cinematographer Award was won by Mr. Yang Wei for the film “Endless Way” China, and the Best Actor award went to Mr. Arun Nalavade and Master Ashwin Chitale for the film “Shwaas”, India.

The International Jury comprised of : Chairman of the Jury – Mr. Milton Shefter (LA, USA), Jury members Mr. Ramses Marzouk (Cinematographer Egypt), Dan Wolman (Director – Israel), Ms. Pouran Derakshandeh ( Director – Iran).

International Film Personalities who attended P.I.F.F. 2005

Directors

Lawrence David Foldes (USA) – Director of the Movie “Finding Home”
Mark Meily (Philippines) – Director of the Movie – “Crying Ladies”
Denis Bovin – Director of the Movie “Hold on to your Hat”

Actors

Nida Wakim – (Lebanon) – Movie – Ring of Fire, Joel Nunez (USA) – Movie – Finally the Sea.

Producer

Victoria Paige Meyerink (USA) – Movie – Finding Home

Major highlights of PIFF 2005:

1. Competitive Section World Cinema
2. Tribute to: Marlon Brando, Mehmood
3. Country Focus: France
4. Retrospective: Gurudutt, Hitchcock
5. Shakespeare in Cinema
6. Young Directors: French Films
7. Indian Panorama
8. Workshop on “Independent Directors & Film Making in the US
9. The festival contributed towards the cause of Tsunami relief in its own special way at the Grand Closing Ceremony which included the world premier of “KISNA” to raise Funds for Tsunami Victims.

PIFF 2006- New Additions

1. PIFF is the only International Film Festival in India to hold a World Competition
2. 1st time in India- Awards are being given in the World Cinema section
3. An international jury judges world Competition entries.
4. 175 shows at 6 screens at different venues
5. More than 5000 viewers
6. Press Meetings with international directors, actors, critics
7. Gala ceremonies
8. Gala Ceremonies in the presence of Film Stars and Celebrities
9. Inaugural ceremony at Shri Ganesh Kala Krida Rangmanch (which is the largest auditorium with Dolby sound system in Asia)
10. Screening of Inaugural film followed by dinner.
11. Life Time Achievement Awards
12. Yash Chopra
13. Vyjayantimala
14. Awards
15. Maharashtra Government Prabhat International Award for The Best Film- “L’enfant- The Child”
16. Maharashtra Government Prabhat International Award for The Best Director- Jean- Pierre & Lucdardenne for the film L’enfant- The Child
17. Best Actor (Male) Award – Jeremie Renier for the film L’enfant- The Child
18. Best Actor (Female) Award- Krystynafeldman for the film Moj Nikifor- My Nikifor
19. Sant Tukaram- Govt. of Maharashtra Best International Marathi Film Award- Dombivli- Fast
20. Inauguration Film- Japanese Story/ Australia

PIFF 2007

1. More than 200 shows at 7 screens at different venues
2. Press Meetings with international directors, actors, critics
3. Gala ceremonies
4. Gala Ceremonies in the presence of Film Stars and Celebrities
5. Inaugural ceremony at E-Square

India International Film Festival (IIFF)

The Indo-US Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the India International Film Festival (IIFF) of Tampa Bay. The chamber’s mission has always been to provide active forums for interaction, education and community involvement. We have been successful in the past in these endeavors through various events like the MOSI partnership for Demystifying India, Expo and training with the International Business Summit and black tie events like the Banyan Ball.

Over 35,000 people of Indian origin call Tampa bay their home. It is one of the fastest growing demographic and contributes approximately 3 billion dollars in revenue through diverse business fields such as Healthcare, IT, Retail, Hospitality, Real Estate and Manufacturing.

One field that plays a vital role in connecting this community and engaging others is films. India is one of the world’s largest makers of films producing over a thousand films annually in several languages. These films are widely viewed and enjoyed in over 80 different markets worldwide.

With the IIFF we hope to bring the community and business together through this medium of films, while providing a platform for independent film-makers to showcase their efforts.

The India International Film Festival (IIFF) of Tampa Bay will take place between 22nd January 2010 and 24th January 2010 at Channelside Cinemas in Tampa. This three day festival will open with a main feature presentation and opening night gala, followed by a variety of feature films, short films, and documentaries from different genres.

We invite you to submit your work for consideration and join us in the festival.

Official festival page is here