FFI, FWICE extend support to filmmakers, not to attend IFFI

Mumbai: Alleging "step-motherly" treatment by the government, a film body which decides India's official entry to the Oscars every year has joined the protesting writers and filmmakers by announcing that it will not attend the upcoming IFFI this year.

In a release today, Film Federation of India (FFI) said the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) will also join it in boycotting the Goa festival.

"For the first time in history, FFI has no representation in the IFFI Steering Committee; not even its President. This, added to the callous, insulting behaviour meted out to the FFI President and Vice President at IFFI 2014, has been a great source of embarrassment and shame," said a release, which has been signed by J P Chowksey, president of FFI.

FWICE, the letter claimed, is unhappy with the "callous attitude of the government" towards its members during the festival last year.

"As a mark of protest against the step-motherly treatment meted out to FFI, as well as to the members of FWICE it has been jointly declared that FFI and FWICE will not participate in IFFI this year. As per the missive given by FWICE, the Cine Artists will also not participate," the letter claimed.

The members, however, said that the producers will not be restrained from entering their films at the festival.

They said their protest is also in support to the writers and filmmakers who returned their National Awards to show support for FTII students. "This non-cooperation is also to extend moral support to the writers and film makers who have returned their awards," the letter read.