The Goan: Why hold a Goa Film Festival in Dubai? What was the thinking behind it?
Williamm Xavier: The objective of holding Goa international film festival outside India was to get international exposure for Goan films, filmmakers and encourage and help the industry so that the business of Goan Cinema gets a massive boost. This first edition in Dubai will not only reach Goan audiences but Indian audiences too, many of them love Goa and Goan culture and identify with it. Goans staying in Dubai welcomed this initiative and were excited to be a part of it. We screened 15 films, 5 of which were Goan films.
TG: Is there anything you think needs improvement, when it comes to the Goan film industry?
WX: Yes. There should not be any compromise in quality when it comes to making good films. Quality has to be maintained in every department of film making, if we want to showcase our products on the global state; the Indian and international audiences must relate to every aspect of the film. Sadly, there needs to be a huge improvement in terms of technicalities, the production process and even the marketing and distribution systems.
WX: How do you promote Goan films in the UAE or elsewhere in that case?
To get more producers, filmmakers, a wider audience and a bigger market, Goan films have to be more diverse and relate to a far bigger audience. There have been people who have shown an interest in many films and the Goan film industry, via the film bazaar that we organized at the festival. There we invited filmmakers, directors, producers and distributors from the UAE. Something will come out of it.
