49th Film Festival to screen sports films and biopics

New Delhi: Celebrating the sports and to recognize the contribution of sportspersons of the country, the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is organising a special section for sports films, as an extension of Khelo India initiative by the government of India this time, the I&B ministry announced on Sunday.

"The international film extravaganza will see Open Air Screenings as a part of the festival where films of the sports genre will be played on a large screen put up in a vast open area," an official statement mentioned. The event will take place at the Joggers' Park in Altinho in Goa.

Six Indian films - Gold, Mary Kom, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, 1983, MSD: The untold story and Soorma - are among those selected from the sports section to be screened at the 49th edition of IFFI.

Moreover, the members from the film fraternity and crew of these movies including Akshay Kumar, Chitrangada Singh, Reema Kagti and Rakesh Omprakash Mehra will attend the gala to present their sports-centric films.

"The occasion will also witness the presence of the cast and crew of the films. Akshay Kumar who will be present for the opening ceremony, stars like Chitrangada Singh and Shaad Ali, Producer and Director respectively, Soorma; Reema Kagti, Director, Gold; Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Director, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag: Abrid Shine, Director, 1983; will be present for the screening," the government statement further confirmed.

Furthermore, the festival will showcase 212 films from over 68 countries.

Israel will be the country of focus at the event and there will be a retrospective section of Ingmar Bergman, marking 100 years of the filmmaker's birth."Working Woman" and "Longing" are among the 10 Israeli films that will be screened at the gala event as part of the country focus package. Avi Nesher's "The Other Story" will kick off the segment.