Pune News: The sixth Pune international film festival (Piff) will kick off at Ganesh Kala Krida Rangmanch on January 10 in the presence of celebrities from the world of cinema.

A statement released on Tuesday by the Piff organising committee said that registration for the mega event will start from January 3. The venues are E-Square, Inox, Ganesh Kala Kreeda Rangmanch and National Film Archives of India (NFAI).

The life-time achievement awards will be presented during the inaugural function. Besides cash awards given by the state government, 'Whistling Woods International,' established by noted film director Subhash Ghai, has announced four cash awards for winners in the students' film competition section.

The best student's film will get $ 2000 while three cash awards of $ 1000 each will be given for best director, best screen play and best animation film. The Maharashtra government will give 'Prabhat award' with Rs 10 lakh cash to the best international film shown in Piff. The Prabhat award for best international director and the Sant Tukaram best international Marathi film award instituted by the state government will carry a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh each.

Piff is the only Indian film festival that awards cash prizes in competition section of world cinema. Another highlight of Piff 2008 will be the screening of many old and rare films from the archives of of NFAI.

The festival will have several sections like international films, Marathi films., student film category, world cinema, country focus, retrospective, tribute, Indian panorama, gems from NFAI, blockbuster films of Indian cinema 2007 and films of life time achievement awardees.

The information and broadcasting ministry, government of Maharashtra, Pune municipal corporation, National Film Development Corporation, NFAI, Maxmueller Bhavan, Alliance Francaise, Film and Television Institute of India and Whistling Woods International will be actively involved in the 8-day event.

The committee is headed by city MP Suresh Kalmadi followed by noted film director Jabbar Patel as festival director, Sabina Sanghvi as vice-chairperson and advisory board comprising Yash Chopra, Subhash Ghai, Hema Malini, Manmohan Shetty, Sham Shroff, Nitin Manmohan and Milton Shefter (US).

The festival will have several sections like international films, Marathi films., student film category, world cinema, country focus, retrospective, tribute, Indian panorama, gems from NFAI, blockbuster films of Indian cinema 2007 and films of life time achievement awardees.

The information and broadcasting ministry, government of Maharashtra, Pune municipal corporation, National Film Development Corporation, NFAI, Maxmueller Bhavan, Alliance Francaise, Film and Television Institute of India and Whistling Woods International will be actively involved in the 8-day event.

The committee is headed by city MP Suresh Kalmadi followed by noted film director Jabbar Patel as festival director, Sabina Sanghvi as vice-chairperson and advisory board comprising Yash Chopra, Subhash Ghai, Hema Malini, Manmohan Shetty, Sham Shroff, Nitin Manmohan and Milton Shefter (US).

by http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com