Manoj Kumar to flag off Panorama section of IFFI on 21 November

Veteran Manoj Kumar will officially flag off the Indian Panorama section of the 44th International Film Festival of India at Panjim on 21 November. The section comprises of twenty six feature films including Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Jal, Listen Amaya, OMG! Oh My God, Paan Singh Tomar and Ship Of Theseus. Besides featuring the best of world cinema, the festival will touch upon the nuances of emerging trends in cinema. Around 160 foreign films under various categories will bring to India works of iconic film personalities. The important event of the festival is that this is where an Rs 600-crore national mission to preserve the country's film heritage will be unveiled. It will get underway later this month. Disclosing the same the Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said, "We are going to unveil a Rs 600 crore National Film Heritage Mission to preserve the film heritage of India. Often old reels get spoiled and so there is a need to preserve all these.” The minister also said that in addition to the lifetime achievement award given at IFFI, a special award will be launched this year on the occasion of Indian cinema completing 100 years. The new award would aim at honouring the contribution of an individual who has dedicated his life to the Indian cinema. Addressing the issue of providing single window clearance for international filmmakers coming to shoot in India, the minister said, "Such a body will have representation from Centre, state as well local bodies so that anybody who wants to make a film in India gets the permission in one go." This year’s edition of the IFFI, that goes underway from 20 to 30 November, will kick start in the presence of Asha Bhosle, Rekha, Kamal Haasan and veteran actor Manoj Kumar. Also present on the occasion would be Academy Award-winning Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon, Iranian director Majid Majidi and Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland. The 11-day festival will feature 160 foreign films under various categories and provide a rare cinematic glimpse of Japan through a selection of animation films under the Country Focus category.