The first International film festival of India was held
in Bombay as early as 1952. At the third festival in 1965, the first
competitive one for India, the Paris based Federation Internationale des
Associations de Producteurs de Films ( FIAPF ) gave official recognition to
the Indian Festival putting it on par with those of Cannes, Berlin, Venice,
Karlovy Vary and Moscow. Since the 9th IFFI in 1983, with the
participation of 22 World Countries, the festival has become a major forum
for Third World cinema.
At the 12th IFFI in 1989, the festival was
declared non-competitive once again. Again at the 27th IFFI in
1996, the festival included the competitive section on alternative years for
Asian Women directors only. It was further expanded at the 29th
IFFI in 1998, and included the competitive section for Asian directors. The
event takes place annually between 10 and 20 October every year
and the 34th IFFI was held in the year
2003. However, it was decided to have the festival permanently in Goa from
2004 onwards and the 35th IFFI was held in Goa between 29
November and 9 December 2004. 36th IFFI was conducted in Goa
between 24 November and 4 December and the competition section further
expanded for Asian/African/Latin American film directors.
The 37th IFFI will be held between 23 November
and 3 December 2006 in Goa.
