Shekhar Kapur Reveals IFFI Revamp, Says Technology-Focused Waves Event Will Be ‘Very Sexy’ (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran Veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, recently appointed as festival director of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), has unveiled plans to expand the 55-year-old Goa-based event’s scope.

Plans include the launch of a Waves, a technology-focused companion to the main festival. Kapur was appointed on July 24 as festival director for IFFI’s 55th and 56th editions.

Kapur aims to position IFFI as a global hub for both traditional cinema and cutting-edge content technology. “We’re looking to create a festival that celebrates artistic excellence while embracing the future of content creation,” Kapur told Variety.

A major addition to this year’s IFFI will be Waves, described by Kapur as “a confluence of content and technology.” While associated with IFFI and also under the purview of India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Waves will be a separate event running concurrently. “We believe that India will be driving content – it’s the biggest content nation in the world,” Kapur explained. “And because it’s the biggest content nation in the world, the technology of content is going to be very important in India.” Waves aims to showcase new technologies and encourage investment in India’s tech sector. “What we’re actually doing is inviting people here saying, ‘You know what you’re using in the market, but you should use it here,'” Kapur said. “We’re saying to people, ‘Park IP in India, create IP in India.'” Kapur emphasized the event’s potential significance, stating that India is the world’s second-largest content consumer after China. “It’s going to be a very sexy festival,” Kapur enthused. “It’s going to be one of the prime festivals.” On the traditional cinema side of IFFI, Kapur stressed the.