NEW DELHI: Following an assurance given earlier this year, the I&B ministry has set up two expert committees for upgradation of the National Film Awards (NFA) and the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

I&B Minister Ambika Soni had reiterated her promise at the inauguration on 23 November of the IFFI 2009 that concluded in Goa last week.

For the National Film Awards, the Expert Committee consists of filmmakers Shyam Benegal, Ashoke Vishwanathan, Vishal Bhardwaj, Nagesh Kukunoor, Mohan Agashe, Jahnu Barua, Shaji Karun, Ms. Sai Paranjape, Ms Waheeda Rehman, Central Board of Film Certification Chairperson Sharmila Tagore and Rajiv Mehrotra (of Public Service Broadcasting Trust). The Ministry would be represented by the Joint Secretary (Films) V B Pyarelal, as Member Secretary and Directorate of Film Festivals Director S M Khan.

This Committee will make recommendations for changes to be made in the Regulations for the Awards as well as the Dadasaheb Phalke award. The Committee will elect its own chairperson in its first meeting.

 
The IFFI Expert Committee will have film personalities like Govind Nihalani, Karan Johar, Pritish Nandy, Prasoon Joshi, Kamal Haasan, A K Bir, Laxmikant Shetgaonkar, Ms. Shabana Azmi, Ms Pooja Shetty Deora, Kishwar Desai, mediaperson Maithili Rao, Children’s Film Society, India, Chairperson Nandita Das and Maharashtra Legislative Council member Charanjit Singh Sapra. The Ministry will be represented by Joint Secretary (Films) V B Pyarelel as Member Secretary, and Mr S M Khan, apart from the Chief Secretary of Goa Sanjeev Srivastava.

This Committee will also recommend changes on the lines of other reputed International Festivals. It will also make recommendations regarding the changes to be made in the selection of Indian Panorama films. The Committee will elect its own Chairperson in the first meeting.

The National Film Awards were instituted by the Government in 1954 and need to be changed to keep pace with technological growth in filmmaking. Soni wants IFFI to be profiled higher to be recognized as one amongst the best film festivals of the world comparable to the Cannes Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival etc.