Goa’s quest for sustainability and the region’s rich heritage just got a shot in the arm with the upcoming Heritage for Sustainability Film Festival, co-organised by non-profit organisation Heritage First Goa (HFG), in collaboration with the tourism industry stakeholder bodies, the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) and SKAL International Goa and Goa Tourism, as part of the state’s World Tourism Day celebration.
The one-day Heritage for Sustainability Film Festival, which is scheduled to be held on September 28 (Sunday) at the Entertainment Society of Goa auditorium in Panaji, will feature 13 films and documentaries made by Goan filmmakers, exploring the themes of heritage, sustainability and belonging.
The unique festival will serve as the culminating event as part of Goa Tourism’s extended World Tourism Day celebrations, highlighting Goa’s unique blend of heritage, culture and sustainability through cinema and documentaries thematically focussed on the subject.
Audiences can look forward to acclaimed films and documentaries such as Bread & Belonging, Islands on the Island, Kharvan, The Birdman of Chorao, Caazu and I Am Nothing, among others. Alongside screenings, the festival will feature conversations with filmmakers and panel discussions on the role of heritage and ecology in shaping contemporary Goa.
“Our film festival is one part of the World Tourism Day celebrations. Goa gets a number of tourists in lakhs every year. We would like to show the fragility of Goa, that there is more to Goa than just the beaches and that it is more than just a commodity, a party destination,” Heta Pandit, Director, HFG.
According to Gasper De Souza, director of the film ‘Islands on the Island,’ a heritage film festival is just what the doctor ordered for Goa. “A festival like this will give young filmmakers, especially students, a platform that will encourage voices from diverse backgrounds,” he said.
Filmmaker Sonia Filinto, whose film ‘Bread and Belonging’ will also be screened said: “Goa is at a crucial crossroads right now. It’s vital to engage in meaningful conversations about the land and its people, so that those who genuinely care about Goa can come together for the greater good of the state. A film festival about all things heritage is a step in that direction.”
Entry to the film festival is priced at ₹250 for general admission and ₹150 for students. A ‘pay as you like’ option is also available, allowing attendees to support Heritage First Goa’s upcoming programmes. Tickets can be booked in advance via WhatsApp or UPI or purchased at the venue on the day of the event. For advance bookings, WhatsApp +91-90216 62237 or make payment via UPI.
