Ameen Sayani, Gautam Ghose, Leela Gandhi M.M. Keeravani to receive the ‘PIFF Distinguished award’
The festival will begin with the film ‘A Brighter Tomorrow’
Pune: Renowned radio announcer Ameen Sayani, director-actor Gautam Ghose, and renowned dancer-actress Leela Gandhi will be felicitated with the ‘PIFF Distinguished Award’, for their contribution to the Indian cinema, while music arranger, singer and lyricist M. M. Keeravani will be felicitated with the S. D. Burman Award for his contribution in the field of music, announced Dr. Jabbar Patel, director of the Festival.
The Inauguration Ceremony of ‘Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) 2024’ will be held at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch on January 18 at 5:00 p.m. and after the opening ceremony, the opening film ‘A Brighter Tomorrow’ (from Italy, director – Nani Moretti) will be shown, while the film ‘Kidnapped’ (from Italy, director – Marco Bellocchio) will conclude the festival (closing film) on January 25, 2024.
Dr Patel while explaining the program of this year’s PIFF added that this year marks the birth centenary of evergreen actor Dev Anand (26 September 1923), singer Mukesh (22 July 1923), director Mrinal Sen (14 May 1923), famous actor-director NTR (28 May 1923), music director Salil Chaudhary (19 November 1923) and all of these artists would be celebrated by the PIFF.
The name of the international jury of the festival was also announced on this occasion. These include Petr Zelenka (Czech Republic – playwright and director), Shai Goldman (Israel – cinematographer and producer), Sudhir Mishra (India – film director and screenwriter), Manju Borah (India – film director and writer, Setareh Eskandari (Iran – Actress), Ümran Safter (Turkey – film director and producer), Sue Prado. (Philippines – Actress), VisakesaChandrasekaram (Sri Lanka – Film director, writer, novelist, dramatist, songwriter).
It was further announced that Vikas kharge, Avinash Dhakne, Jhanu Barua, Shai Goldman, Manoj Bajpayee will hold master classes on various topics in this festival. There will be a seminar on ‘In Search of New Marathi Cinema’ in which Nikhil Mahajan, Varun Narvekar, Ritesh Deshmukh, Mangesh Desai and Sanjay Krushnaji Patil will participate. Also dignitaries like Dr. Saibal Chatterjee, Beena Paul, Edvinas Pukasta will participate in the seminar on the future and importance of film festivals.
Pune International Film Festival (PIF) 2024 will be held from January 18 to 25. Movies from around world will be shown on a total of 11 screens at three locations: PVR Icon (6 screens) at Pavilion Mall on Senapati Bapat Road, Inox (3 screens) at Camp area and Cinepolis Cinemas at Westend Mall (2 screens) in Aundh area.
The online registration process for the festival has started on the official website of the festival www.piffindia.com and the spot registration process has also started at the theatres. The registration fee for the entire festival is just Rs. 800.
