Malayalam filmmakers participating in the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2005 alleged that south Indian films were being neglected in Goa and demanded a change of venue of the Festival to Delhi.
"The influence of mainstream cinema is everywhere. IFFI should be shifted to Delhi, which will benefit filmmakers. It has now become a carnival," said Jayaraj, a director from Kerala, while participating in the Open Forum 'Malayalam Cinema in Panorama' in Goa.
The director, whose film Daivanamathil was the inaugural film at the Indian Panorama, said he has attended 12 film festivals till date and all had serious discussions -- something the Goa festival lacks. "From the opening ceremony onwards, the film festival is supporting only Bollywood and mainstream cinema," Jayaraj added. The national award winning director said that Malayalam filmmakers have brought their discontent to the notice of the director of IFFI, Afzal Amanullah.
"Even after two days, the director of a Malayalam film Achuvinte Amma was not given an opportunity to hold the customary press conference," said Jayaraj. Another director from the South Indian state, Albert, whose film Kanne Madanguka is being screened in the feature film section of Indian Panorama, echoed the sentiments. "I myself had to stick posters of my film as the organisers didn't bother to. Bollywood posters are put up everywhere, leaving no space for other films," he complained.
