Panaji, Nov 22 (Agency) The 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa has spotlighted non-feature films as a critical medium for storytelling, with the jury emphasising the need for greater awareness, mentoring, and financial support for emerging documentary filmmakers. In a press conference on Thursday,Subbiah Nallamuthu, Chairperson of the Indian Panorama Non-Feature Films Jury, shared that over 250 entries were received from across the country, reflecting the growing interest in the genre. “We received more than 250 entries from across the country, with a significant number from the Northeast,” remarked Nallamuthu. “Filmmakers from various walks of life including college students and young creators have submitted their entries. Content and storytelling remained the key selection criteria,” he mentioned. Shalini Shah, a jury member, expressed excitement about the selection of a Ladakhi film “Ghar Jaisa Kuch”, as the opening offering, calling it “a rare and proud occasion.”
She also stressed on the progress in Haryanvi cinema, attributing the improvement in craft to dedicated mentoring initiatives. The jury also suggested that the government may consider channelling CSR funds towards individual non-feature film projects to provide financial backing. The panel collectively advocated stronger financial and structural support for non-feature filmmaking. They urged OTT platforms to commission and promote documentaries, while also recommending that the government consider channeling CSR funds to individual non-feature film projects. At IFFI 2024, 20 non-feature films will be screened in the Indian Panorama selected from a spectrum of 262 films. The package of non-feature films exemplifies the capacity of emerging and established filmmakers to document, investigate, entertain and also reflect contemporary Indian values.