CM Backtracks on Assurance: Goan Talent Sidelined Again : Vijai Sardesai
Panaji: Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said that on the floor of the Goa Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant had assured Goans that the unjust 15% Goan vs. 85% non-Goan eligibility criteria for the Goa State Film Festival would be reversed. This commitment had given fresh hope to the creative community. However, at today’s inaugural of the Marathi Film Festival, the Chief Minister urged Maharashtra filmmakers to take as much as 70% of the space, leaving Goan artists to compete for the remaining 30%. “This is a direct breach of his own assurance and a clear sidelining of Goan talent,” stated Vijai Sardesai.
Goan filmmakers, actors, technicians, and artists have long struggled for fair opportunity in their own state. Instead of correcting the imbalance, the CM’s statement today cements it, making local talent second-class in Goa’s cultural landscape. The notification for the Goa State Film Festival–2025 is outdated and riddled with ambiguities. It must be scrapped and replaced with a fresh, transparent, and merit-based framework with a clear “Goan First” focus, the Fatorda MLA demanded.
The Goan Film Fraternity had flagged the faulty notification and ambiguities in the rules as early as June 2025, immediately after the State Film Festival was announced. They had also submitted a memorandum to the Entertainment Society of Goa and, on my initiative, held a meeting with ESG Vice Chairperson Delilah Lobo, who assured them that corrective steps would be taken. The Chief Minister’s statement today directly contradicts not only his assurance on the Assembly floor but also his assurance to them that a new notification would be issued on Wednesday, said Vijai Sardesai.
“As an elected representative, I will remain vigilant and oppose any move that reduces Goan participation to a token quota. Our artists deserve respect, dignity, and real opportunities, not symbolic gestures. Goan art and culture are the living soul of our state. They cannot be bartered away for political optics. The government must honour its word and give Goan talent the rightful platform it deserves. Anything less is a betrayal of both our artists and Goa itself,” claimed Vijai Sardesai.
