Panaji: On the backdrop of India inking the film co-production treaty with China, organisers of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) have decided to focus Chinese cinema in its upcoming edition scheduled to be held in November.
“Each year, the festival focuses on one particular country and since this year there has been lot of interaction going on between the two governments (India and China) it was felt that we should highlight China,” Director, IFFI Shankar Mohan, said.
India and China signed a co-production treaty for the films on Thursday. Mohan said China being the focus country, will bring in attention about what is happening in contemporary Chinese cinema.
“We will also invite people from China’s film industry so that there is greater interaction happening at various levels. The interaction will happen not only at the highest level but also at other levels like cultural exchange,” he added.
Mohan said the decision of IFFI organisers coincided with the signing co-production treaty. “The co-production treaty will be about exchange between the two countries and it will be an umbrella under which the filmmakers can work,” film festival director added.
He said Indian films are popular in China but the neighbouring country has different kind of system, hence they have limitations on the number of films screened.
“Under the treaty, these things (film screenings) would open up as far as India and China relations are concerned,” he added