Pomp and festivity marked the inauguration of the 40th International Film Festival of India at Panaji this evening. Legendary Actress Waheeda Rehman lit the ceremonial lamp assisted by Bollywood actress Asin to mark the start of the 11 day extravaganza. Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mrs Ambika Soni, Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat , Actor Nana Patekar and a host of celebrities from the tinsel world who attended the opening ceremony. Internationally acclaimed Indian Film actor along Kabir Bedi with Mumbai star Divya Dutta, anchored the inaugural programme which was followed by a dance performance by students of the Kalakshetra foundation.<br/><br/>Speaking at the inaugural function Mrs. Ambika Soni said a committee of experts will be constituted to suggest measures to provide extra facilities to those attending this event and to make it a truly global festival. Paying rich tributes to the Indian film makers, she said, the country produces the maximum number of films in the world in a year, averaging about 1000 films. Mrs. Ambika Soni said the film festival showcases outstanding cinema of the world to the discerning viewers.<br/><br/>The festival opens with the screening of the Chinese film ‘Wheat’ directed by by He Ping. Films from Asia, Asia- Pacific Latin America and Africa will compete for the IFFI awards. The competition section will have 13 films from across the world including two from India. The Indian Panorama will have 77 films. The festival will also have retrospective sections devoted to the films of world’s only active centenarian Portuguese film maker Manuel de Oliveira and Thai’s acclaimed movie maker Nonzee Nimibutr besides retrospectives of Asha Parekh, Sharmila Tagore, Soumitra Chaterjee who have completed 50 years in the cinema industry. To promote Goa, a separate Section ‘Goa as Celluloid Destination’ has been added in this festival<br/>