It is official. The area from Panaji to Fort Aguada, crossing over the picturesque River Mandovi, will be the permanent venue for the International Film Festival of India. Film Advisory Council and Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad confirmed this after a final inspection of the venue on August 23.

The Kala Academy complex, which will be designed by renowned architect Sir Charles Correa, will house a 1,500-seat theatre and is likely to be the central venue for the festival. Two multiplexes with eight to 10 small theatres, a film bazaar and an animation studio will also be built around the complex.

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Bollywood filmmakers hope to launch the festival in Goa by December next year.

Goa's scenic capital has been favoured unanimously by Yash Chopra, Shekhar Kapur, Bobby  Bedi, L Suresh and Pawan Chopra. Bollywood veterans had earlier suggested transporting delegates from the hotels along the northern coast of Goa at Sinquerim, Calangute and Baga, to the venues in speedboats and hovercrafts rather than by road.

"We will provide the best facilities in the quickest possible time," Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said. This includes upgrading the beautified Panaji city, his home constituency. The central government on its part has promised a world class convention centre on the Fort Aguada plateau.

The Indian film industry, which is worth $1.2 billion, produces the world's largest number of films: 1,000 films in 30 languages annually. The Goa International Film Festival is looked upon as a channel to promote the Indian film industry at an international level.

As far as the information and broadcasting minister is concerned, however, it is not just the film industry that will get a boost. "I want to project Goa as a vibrant symbol to convey India's creativity," Prasad said.

"Goa will be ultimately be the centre of the Indian film industry," feels the union minister.

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