Goa Church miffed at clash of film fest dates

The Catholic Church in Goa is miffed that the state and central government is turning a blind eye to its plea on changing the date of the final ceremony of the 42nd International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

The eleven-day cinematic extravaganza at Margao began on Wednesday with the lighting of lamp by actor Shah Rukh Khan, in the presence of Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni. The event is to screen more than 100 films from 68 countries.

Expressing unhappiness over the clash of IFFI dates with the feast of St Francis Xavier, the Catholic Church is demanding the closing ceremony of IFFI be changed from December 3.

The Church has accused the government of being insensitive to local sentiments, and said it was 'appalled' by the responses by Minister Ambika Soni and Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.

"The Church takes strong exception to its scheduling concomitantly with the novena and feast of St Francis Xavier at the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa. This is not an event that was foisted upon people, but evolved from the respects being paid to him by people of all hues down the ages," said Fr Francisco Caldeira, spokesperson for Archdiocese of Goa and Daman.

In a statement, Caldeira said the IFFI had led to a "virtual collapse of logistics so much needed to organise the devotees attending the religious services".

"Adding insult to injury is the evasive and ambiguous response of the powers-that-be to the recent intervention of a delegation of priests submitting a memorandum to our Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Amibkla Soni. All this appals us," Caldeira said.

The Church has cautioned that the clash of IFFI with the novena and feast of St Francis Xavier "will not be tolerated" from next year.

"We forcefully appeal to the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) and the Film Federation of India (FFI) to ensure that in keeping with the sensibilities of the host state, the IFFI does not coincide henceforth next year," Caldeira said.

According to sources, several church groups have camped themselves near the IFFI venue since Wednesday, protesting against the dates.

Tens of thousands of devotees and tourists from across the globe visit the coastal state to participate in the Old Goa Church festival. The Church houses the scared relics of the 15th century Spanish saint Francis Xavier, who is believed to have started Christianity in Goa.

Earlier, the minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni had said that the demand to curtail the Nov. 23 – Dec. 3 festival was under consideration.

On Thursday however she came with a disappointing response stating that the decision on festival dates can be taken only by the International Film Festival Committee.