Expressing its disenchantment with the I & B Ministry and its continuing “step-motherly” treatment to apex film industry bodies, the Film Federation of India (FFI), and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) on Thursday declared a boycott of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa 2015 scheduled for December.
Though the immediate trigger for the move appeared to be lack of representation to industry bodies in organising the IFFI, sources said the boycott was to protest against I & B Ministry’s attitude of taking film industry-related decisions directly without consulting the apex body. Industry sources pointed out to the growing influence of a former actor who is Censor Board member and is also a former BJP national secretary in such decision-making.
The decision to boycott the festival was taken by FFI and FWICE after attending a meeting of Film Industry Coordination Committee called by the Directorate of Film Festival on October 27 when industry representation expressed their resentment towards the government’s attitude. The members also lodged a protest against the treatment given to 200 cine employees who were invited by the Festival Director to the IFFI, Goa 2014, but on landing in Goa were not given delegate passes to attend the festival.
The FFI has always been the incumbent government’s link to the Indian film industry, which also selects the Indian entry to the Oscars, was consulted on decisions that may impact the film industry.
“Unfortunately, what was once a strong bond...is being severely tested, strained, and threatened. Today the FFI is either being ignored or sidelined. Without prejudice, it is our belief, that the top echelon in the government is not fully conversant with the ground realities and is being misguided by overzealous and self-seeking individuals,” FFI president JP Chowksey said in a statement.
He rued the fact that the FFI did not find representation in the IFFI Steering Committee for IFFI 2015 for the first time.
