Veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who was recently appointed director of the International Film Festival of India, has revealed plans to expand the 55-year-old event in Goa. The plans include the launch of Waves, a technology-focused companion to the main festival.
Kapoor was appointed on July 24 as the festival director for the 55th and 56th editions of IFFI. Kapoor aims to position IFFI as a global hub for both traditional cinema and cutting-edge content technology. “We look forward to creating a festival that celebrates artistic excellence while embracing the future of content creation,” said Kapoor. diverse.
One of the major additions to this year’s festival is Waves, which Kapoor describes as a “convergence of content and technology.” Although it is affiliated with IFFI and is under the auspices of India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Waves will be a separate event running concurrently with it.
“We believe that India will lead the content industry, it is the largest content country in the world. And because it is the largest content country in the world, content technology will be very important in India,” Kapoor explained.
Waves aims to showcase new technologies and encourage investment in India’s tech sector. “What we’re actually doing is calling people here and saying, ‘You know what you’re using in the market, but you should use it here,’” Kapoor said. “We’re telling people, ‘Keep the IP in India, make the IP in India.’”
Kapoor stressed the potential importance of the event, noting that India is the world's second-largest content consumer after China. “It's going to be a very exciting festival. It's going to be one of the major festivals,” Kapoor enthused.
On the traditional cinematic side of the international film festival, Kapoor stressed the importance of maintaining artistic excellence. “The art of storytelling will always be the spearhead. It represents the pursuit of excellence. The awards will go to those who strive for artistic excellence,” he said.
Kapoor also highlighted the recently launched OTT (streaming) awards by the International Film Institute, recognising the platform’s contribution to discovering new talent. “We cannot ignore OTT. It has helped unearth tremendous creative talent – writers, directors, actors. New talent is being discovered entirely through OTT,” he said.
Speaking about concerns about the impact of AI on the entertainment industry, Kapoor acknowledged the need for balance. “AI is a holistic technology that cannot be ignored,” he said. “We have to find a way to deal with the issue of intellectual property. We need to find ways to make it not a contradiction, but a collaboration.”
Kapoor warned of the potential consequences of a conflict between AI and traditional industrial roles. “What we can’t afford is conflict, because if there is conflict, AI will win,” he said. “And because it’s such an exciting technology, everyone is already using it.”
To illustrate the potential of AI, Kapoor shared an anecdote about his chef who used ChatGPT to write a script for the sequel to his 1987 hit film “Mr. India 2.” “It was as good as the others,” Kapoor said, adding that his chef, Nilesh, has since become interested in different art forms created by AI.
IFFI also houses Film Bazaar, the largest content marketplace in South Asia. The 55th edition of IFFI will be held from November 20 to 28. diverse It is understood that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may inaugurate it.
