Friday, November 25 2005 16:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Panaji: Exhorting festival organizers to rope in more international stars to promote the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Union Culture Minister S Jaipal Reddy today (Nov 25, 2005) said advance planning was required to ensure the success of the annual event.

"Cinema is not about glamour alone but cinema would be nothing without glamour. We need better infrastructure and more global celebrities to be associated with the festival," Reddy said inaugurating the IFFI Indian Panorama section here.

"There were too many political uncertainties in Goa this time but for 2006, it should be possible to fix up many more global celebrities," he said.

The Minister also said that organizers should start planning for the next edition of the festival the moment IFFI 2005 ends.

"We should not rest on our laurels. We need to put our act together right after this festival," Reddy said adding that he would be discussing the issue with Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi.

Noting that no one had ever raised any allegations against the jury for the Indian Panorama section, the Minister said this meant that the films had been chosen on the basis of merit.

"It is great that the professional integrity of the jury has never been questioned. There has never been any whisper of discrimination against the members," he said.

Reddy also urged filmmakers not to compromise on the quality of their films when making use of modern technology.

"Technology must be used in a proper way and cannot be substituted for content," he said.

Reddy predicted that IFFI Goa would acquire an international profile like that of the Cannes film festival within the next three years.

The Minister also presented festival mementos to filmmakers Jayaraj and Gautam Saikia whose films 'Daivanamathil' (In the name of God) and 'The Jaws of Death' were screened later today as part of the IFFI Indian Panorama section.

Goa Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane, feature and non-feature film jury chairpersons M S Sathyu and Aribam Syam Sarma were also present on the occasion.