Jharkhand selected as 'Focus State' in 49th IFFI: Barnwal

Jharkhand has been selected as the 'Focus State' in the 49th International Film Festival (IFFI) to be held in Goa, a senior state government official said here Tuesday.

The IFFI will celebrate November 24 as Jharkhand Day, Information and Public Relations Department secretary, Sunil Kumar Barnwal told a press conference here.

"It is a matter of pride. For the first time in this festival a state (Jharkhand) is being included as a focus state," Barnwal said.

He said that 212 films from different languages of more than 68 countries will be screened at the film festival, adding that seven films made in Jharkhand - MSD The Untold Story, Death in the Ganj, Ranchi Diary, Begum Jan, Mor Gaon Mor Desh, Panchlet, Ajab Singh ki Gajab Kahani will also be screened along with other films from November 21 to 28.

Barnwal said, "Our main objective is to publicise the Jharkhand Film policy so that people associated with the film industry come and shoot films in Jharkhand. It will provide employment opportunity to the artists of the state and help in establishing Jharkhand as tourist destination."