International Film Festival of India begins today in Goa

Panaji (Goa, India) Nov 23 (PTI) India's national award-winning film 'Adaminte Makan Abu' is the country's official entry in the competition section of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2011 that begins in Goa from today. The international competition section also has films from countries including Belgium, Philippines, Russia, Japan, Iran, Ireland, Colombia, Israel, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Canada and Kazakhstan. The Malayalam language film 'Adaminte Makan Abu' (Abu, Son of Adam), which has also been chosen as India's official entry in the Best Foreign Film category for the 84th Academy Awards, will be competing with 14 other films for the coveted Golden Peacock award at the IFFI. Directed by debutant Salim Ahamad, the film is the story of a poor perfume-seller, Abu, whose only remaining wish in life is to do the sacred Haj pilgrimage. The jury, headed by renowned Indian filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, will be judging these films. Other members on the panel include Laurence Kardish, a senior curator of film at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Lee Yong Kwan, director of Busan International Film Festival of South Korea, Tahmineh Milani, an Iranian filmmaker and Dan Wolman, an Israeli award-winning filmmaker. Apart from the Golden Peacock award for the Best Film, there will be other awards like the Silver Peacocks for Best Director, Best Actor (Male), Best Actor (Female) and Special Jury Award. IFFI will go on till December 3, followed by an awards function in Panaji, the state capital. PTI