PANAJI
The revamped Kala Academy will certainly grace the upcoming International Film Festival of India (IFFI). However, no movie screenings will be hosted. Instead, the government has decided to focus on master classes and in-conversation sessions during the extravaganza scheduled from November 20-28.
Vice Chairperson of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) Delilah Lobo cited limited days to prepare the space for movie screenings but assured that the auditorium and the black box will host the screening among other shows from next year.
“Kala Academy won’t host film screenings this year but it will return next year. Master Classes and In-Conversation will keep the place buzzing though,” she said while addressing media persons in the capital on Thursday.
The iconic art and culture center is set to re-open for the public on Friday, except for the open auditorium, repair of which is yet to begin.
Earlier this week, Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude confirmed the renovated structure will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and that the venue will be made available for IFFI.
Meanwhile, addressing seating concerns during the film festival, Lobo asserted technological upgrades with the inclusion of two additional theaters in a bid to accommodate delegate preferences and avoid last-minute ticket rushes.
Open-air screenings will offer over 1000 seats, enhancing the festival experience. This year, the open air screenings will be held at three locations in Goa and the moving caravan theatres will showcase the locally popular cinema here.
Lobo, also the Siolim MLA, emphasised disabled friendly IFFI citing facilities for specially-abled festival delegates to access all the screening and other venues. “We are making the festival an inclusive and accessible avenue for everyone. It is a step taken towards inclusivity,” she said.
