PANAJI: Making a film in Goa is like putting your hands in fire, described experienced filmmaker Jeetendra Shikerkar, director of ‘DCosta House’ Konkani feature film. Young and talented non-feature film directors Himanshu Singh, Sunil Revankar, producer Supraj Kerkar also agreed. The youth also expressed their desire to improve content and take the Goan film standard to a high level. The OTT platforms have also been emerging as a big hope for taking their creation to a wider audience but right now the major names do not have a Konkani section enlisted.
The Goan section filmmakers addressed a press conference on the sidelines of 52nd IFFI, where ‘DCosta House’ was premiered. Jeetendra Shikerkar hailed the support of producer Dr Pramod Salgaocar. “It was her full support despite there being no return from her past films, Dr Pramod Salgaocar backed us to the hilt! In Goa, we have the passion to preserve our culture, our language and we want to show Goa’s real image to the world. It is not ‘sun sand sea,’ what is projected,” said Jeetendra, who has previously directed four films.
“Going forward, I would say we need a better pattern for subsidy, and by virtue of IFFI – we need a stronger push, commercially viable support to get cinema hall at low costs,” he added to a query on what role the state events agency, Entertainment Society of Goa can play.
Dr Salgaocar, whose film Baga Beach bagged national award in the past, also hoped that the government will formulate a policy with broader parameters so that producers like her can work with pan-India talents.
Himanshu Singh, director of Kumpacho Daryo, highlighted the constraints; but he also stressed that the IFFI selection is a huge morale-booster.
Sunil Revankar, director of Paul10, asserted that despite all challenges; the focus will be on coming up with stronger content to make the Goan section a formidable proposition in future.
Supraj Kerkar, producer and sound-designer of Gagan, disclosed that he has spoken to a leading short-film OTT platform but Konkani section is yet to be considered on the platform. He however, expressed optimism that such a facility will materialise soon. His first short film Tiffin Box was a success at various festivals.
The Goan section filmmakers were delighted for their films being selected for IFFI and emphasised that this encourages them to make more films despite financial challenges.
