`The Don Juans` to open IFFI; Susan Sarandon to be chief guest

Panaji: Czech comedy film `The Don Juans` directed by Jiri Menzel will open the forthcoming International Film Festival of India (IFFI) scheduled to be held in Goa from November 20 to November 30.

After chairing a preparatory meeting in Goa to oversee preparations for IFFI, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari told reporters here today that American Academy award winning actress Susan Sarandon would be the chief guest for the festival. The meeting was also attended by Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and officials from the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry including director of the film festival, Shankar Mohan. Iranian director Majid Majidi, Indian actress Rekha and iconic Indian singer Asha Bhonsle will be present for the inauguration. `The Don Juans`, a Czech film by Jiri Menzel will open the festival, he said, adding that the director would also be felicitated with a lifetime achievement award. The film has been selected as the Czech entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 86th Academy awards. Tewari said that 216 films from 70 countries will be screened during the ten-day long event, which would focus on North Eastern states this time.