T-20 of Indian cinema contest dropped from IFFI 2010

The organisers of IFFI decided to drop the `T-20 of Indian Cinema` section from the forthcoming edition of the event.

Panaji: Goa filmmakers decided to suspend their scheduled agitation after the organisers of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) decided to drop the `T-20 of Indian Cinema` section from the forthcoming edition of the ten-day event.
The Federation of Film Fraternity of Goa (FFFG) President Arnold D`Costa said the filmmakers are happy with State Chief Minister Digamber Kamat`s decision to discontinue with the contest. The idea behind the contest was to involve the whole country with IFFI, getting film lovers to rate the top 20 feature films of Indian Cinema. D`Costa said the government has also agreed to scale down the budget for highly expensive Short Film Centre (SFC) section. "The Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), a government-run body has decided to hold the SFC section within Rs 40 lakh and raise the money through sponsors," D`Costa said. FFFG had expressed its displeasure over two of IFFI sections, which were guzzling a lot of the budget, and the filmmakers had threatened to launch an agitation if these sections are not revised or dropped. Subsequently, Goa government in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Centre on October 13 dropped the T-20 section while deciding to trim SFC expenses. D`Costa said after consistent representation from FFFG, the Chief Minister has also agreed to include two members of the film fraternity on the Governing Council of the ESG. The 41st edition of the film extravaganza would commence in Goa from November 22. PTI