Controversy surrounds IFFI preparation in Goa

PANAJI: The run up to the 36th International Film Festival of India, beginning here on  November 24, is already tangled in controversy with one of the special invitee to the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) resigning on the grounds that the event management committee has already been pre-determined.

Fashion designer Wendell Rodricks told DNA that the manner in which the intimation to special invitees was sent out for the first committee meeting held last week – during which five event management committees gave their presentations – it was clear that their presence was really not wanted.

Wendell says he was informed of the meeting a few hours before it was held just like the others including artist and cartoonist Mario Miranda, Ranjana Salgaocar of the Red Cross and Anju Timblo from Cidade de Goa.

The half-heartedness behind the intimation suggested that they had already pre-determined who was to get the contract and they’d rather the special invitees did not come and queer the pitch, Wendell says.

Mario Miranda told DNA, “Nobody even bothered to call me or consult me before putting me on  the committee. “The first thing I knew about is when I got the intimation a few hours before the meeting.”

Mario did not go, Wendell could not go because he had a previous engagement in  Chandigarh but instead sent in a letter suggesting no mass events be held during IFFI because it would exacerbate the situation.

“I had requested that the letter be read at the meeting since I could not be present, but that was not done,”  Rodricks said.

Many of the other special invites too are reportedly upset that they are being railroaded into pushing through the ESG’s agenda.

Debashree Mukherjee, information secretary, while talking to DNA, denied that the event management company had been pre-determined. “We have tried our level best to make the process fair and transparent,” she said.

She said celebrities like Wendell Rodricks had been invited onto the committee to get inputs to showcase Goa. About Wendell pulling out, she says, “Some members may be unavailable for meetings, but we still have a job to do.”

But the  job is being rushed through because the Congress government, which took office in June, got carried away into posturing as being anti-IFFI. “This dilly dallying has cost us valuable time and as a result we are working against time,” says Sanjit Rodrigues, Chief Executive Officer of the ESG.

As to whether Goa will be ready, time will tell. The I&B ministry’s technical team which was here last week has finalised the theatres where films will be shown. The repairing of roads has gotten underway.