The 43rd International Film Festival of India begins today in Goa. Cinestar, Akshay Kumar will be the Chief Guest for the opening function while the Minister for Information & roadcasting, Mr. Manish Tewari will be present on the occasion along with Chief Minister of Goa, Mr. Manohar Parrikar and other prominent dignitaries.

Mr. Tewari will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to the 73-year-old renowned Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Zanussi during the opening function today.

The Festival involves a total screening of more than two hundred movies from 70 countries till 30th November. The Festival will showcase Oscar Award winner Ang Lee’s ‘Life of Pi’ as its opening movie, and will screen Mira Nair’s ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ as the closing movie of the festival. Our correspondent reports that this year’s film festival will witness not only best of world cinema but it will also showcase the glorious hundred years of Indian cinema. With the galaxy of stars like Akshay Kumar, Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Om Puri, Jackie Shroff, Vinay Pathak, the opening ceremony promises to be one of the greatest celebrations of the centenary year of Indian Cinema. The festival is opening with Ang Lee’s much anticipated 3D Film ‘Life of Pi. It will bring together stalwarts like Nitin Desai, Resul Pookutty, Shyam Benegal, Adoor Gopalakrishnan and many others during the master classes which will provide the audience with an opportunity to interact with them. Films of Yash Chopra, Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna , AK Hangal, Dara Singh, Joy Mukherjee, and others who passed away during the year will be screened as a tribute to them.

All India Radio will broadcast live the inaugural ceremony of the 43rd International Film Festival of India today. It will be available on the FM Gold network from 3.55 p.m. Daily Radio reports on the festival will also be broadcast from tomorrow to the 30th of this month on FM Gold network.