Goa State Film Festival Faces Criticism Over Eligibility Norms
Margao :
The upcoming Goa State Film Festival 2025, announced with much anticipation after a decade-long hiatus, has come under scrutiny for its eligibility guidelines, which many within the Goan film fraternity believe dilute the very idea of a state film festival.
Vishal Pai Cacode, former member of the Governing Body of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), has publicly criticised the festival’s criteria, which require only 15 per cent of the film’s on-screen artists and 15 per cent of key technicians to be of Goan origin or domicile. The remaining 85 per cent of the cast and crew, critics argue, may comprise non-Goans, thereby undermining the festival’s purpose of promoting regional talent.
“If Goan identity is reduced to a symbolic 15 per cent, then what exactly are we celebrating?” Mr. Cacode asked. “This is not an act of inclusion; it is a calculated dilution.”
The festival, scheduled from August 14 to 17, will host its 10th, 11th, and 12th editions concurrently, showcasing films produced between 2018 and 2023. The last few editions of the state festival were held over a decade ago.
Outdated Guidelines, Contemporary Challenges
Mr. Cacode further expressed concern that the current festival is operating under the Goa State Film Festival Regulations, 2014, a set of rules he calls outdated and unreflective of contemporary filmmaking realities. He noted that these regulations, including mandatory censor certification and outdated timelines, do not address the current dynamics of regional cinema and independent productions.
“The announcement to revive the festival followed a public debate and a series of articles highlighting the neglect of Goan filmmakers. While the revival is a step forward, its execution appears superficial and poorly planned,” he said.
The ESG’s decision to proceed without consulting industry stakeholders, Mr. Cacode alleged, risks reducing the festival to a symbolic gesture rather than a meaningful platform for Goan talent. “You cannot revive Goan cinema while excluding Goan filmmakers,” he stated, adding that the current structure benefits outside productions more than local ones.
He emphasised that a state film festival must serve as an enabling space to empower, encourage and invest in regional voices. Anything less, he warned, would be a betrayal of the very purpose such a festival is meant to serve.
Call for Structural Reforms
Mr. Cacode has called for a complete overhaul of the festival regulations, urging the government to initiate dialogue with local filmmakers, producers, writers and technicians. He maintained that future editions of the Goa State Film Festival must be guided by updated, inclusive, and fair frameworks that reflect the present-day creative ecosystem in the State.
“The rules must be reframed in consultation with those who live and breathe Goan cinema, not just administered from the top down,” he said.
As preparations continue for the August festival, the ESG has not yet issued any official response to the concerns raised. Whether these voices lead to reform or are lost in the noise of a high-profile cultural event remains to be seen.
