The International Film Festival of India 1999 is to be held in Hyderabad from January 10 to 20, 1999. This is being organised by Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India in collaboration with Govt. of Andhra Pradesh and Indian Film Industry. The Inaugural Function of the 30th International Film Festival will be held on the evening of 10th January, 1999 in Hyderabad.

The programme of the festival will be divided into various broad categories. The ‘Cinema of the World’ section will consist of about 75 films, from about 35 countries, made in last two years, representing the best of the latest in world cinema. These will include films which have won awards or have received critical acclaim. Films from most film producing countries, including third world countries, will be included, with a view to providing a glimpse of current cinematic trends in as wide a cross-section of nations as is possible. Foreign Retrospectives/Tributes/Perspectives section among others will include ‘Visions of India’, a selection of films made by non-Indians and their perception of India as seen through their Cinematic eye. Each year a region or country is identified to dedicate special attention to its cinema. Argentinean Cinema would have ‘COUNTRY FOCUS’ section screening – a selection of important Features.  Sixteen feature and Nineteen non-feature Indian films selected by a selection panel of eminent film personalities under INDIAN PANORAMA scheme will be screened. Twelve popular Indian films released during 1997-98 finalised by a selection panel constituted by Film Federation of India will also be screened in MAINSTREAM INDIAN CINEMA section. Indian/ Retrospective/ Tribute/ Perspectives section would screen ‘Visions of India’ as observed through the Cinematic eye of Indian Film makers. The Indian retrospective is dedicated to commemorating the spirit of this Millennium wherein this festival would be the last in this century before 2000 A.D. The festival logo is the same as in previous years, i.e. the Golden Peacock symbol, with ‘IFFI ‘99’ engraved below it. Two posters are under preparation, one dedicated to the 30th International Film Festival of India and one to the Indian Panorama section.

As in the past about 3000 delegates may be registered for the festival, including foreign and Indian delegates. The foreign delegates would include film personalities, directors, actors, actresses, producers, representatives of film organisations, International film festival directors and selectors and journalists. The Indian delegates will include Indian Panorama directors, producers, actors, actresses, as well as film industry delegates from all over the country who will be accredited through film industry organisation and associations, in accordance with established norms and quotas decided in consultation with the Film Industry

Co-ordination Committee. As in previous years, films journalists and critics from all over the country will be accredited to the festival. The Media Centre will be handled by the Press Information Bureau.

Two seminars will be organised by FFSI in collaboration with the French Embassy & Max Mueller Bhavan, during the festival on the topics:

Visions of India – Foreign Perspectives.

Cinema 2000 vis-à-vis Industry Status.

The Federation of Film Societies of India will also be organising an open forum during IFFI’99, . During previous festivals, the local branch of the Federation of Film Societies of India (in the city where the festival was held) has organised an open forum for initiating a dialogue between film makers, critics, delegates and the discerning public. This has proved to be popular, as it provides participants with a platform to meet and exchange views. Several special exhibitions will also be set up during the festival. DAVP will be setting up of photographic exhibition.

The regulations for IFFI’99 duly printed have been circulated world-wide to invite entries to the festival. These regulations are in consonance with the international regulations for film festivals formulated by the Paris – based International    Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), with which our festival is accredited, along with most major film festivals of the world. The proposed ticket rates for IFFI’99 are as under:

For Cinema of the world Section : Rs. 35/- and Rs. 25/-
For Foreign Retrospectives : Rs. 20/- and Rs. 15/-
For Indian Panorama
Indian Retrospectives : Rs. 20/- and Rs. 15/-
For Indian Mainstream : Rs. 20/- and Rs. 15/-
The Ministry has sanctioned a budget of Rs. 1.35 crores. This will be supplemented by Government of Andhra Pradesh and sponsors.