Film on Nelson Mandela to close 44th Iffi

PANAJI: 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom' directed by Justin Chadwick and written by William Nicholson will be the closing film of International film festival of India (Iffi) 2013.
It is a biographical film about the anti-apartheid revolutionary and former South African president Nelson Mandela's life, based on the 1994 book of the same name as the film. The iconic leader has been in news this year for his ill-health.
The Czech comedy 'The Don Juans' by film director, actor and screenwriter Jiri Menzel will be opening film of the festival.
There are prizes amounting to 13.2 crore to be won by competing films at the 10-day film festival to be hosted by Goa from November 20.
The country focus section of Iffi will feature films from Japan this year, the organizers announced on Tuesday. The films to be screened in the section will include a combination of signature Japanese animation films that are extremely popular with the Indian audience, and fiction feature films.
Legendary actor Manoj Kumar will be in Goa this year to officially flag off the Indian Panorama 2013 during the inaugural ceremony. Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland is also set to attend the opening ceremony of Iffi along with Iranian film director Majid Majidi, Hollywood actor Susan Sarandon and Indian cinema's Rekha and legendary singer Asha Bhonsle.
An Indian Cinema Centenary Award will also be bestowed on a film with artistic merit and technical excellence.