Vishal Pai Cacode criticises lack of support, infrastructure for Goan filmmakers at IFFI

Panaji: The absence of a single Goan film in the official section of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025 has drawn sharp criticism from sections of the State’s film fraternity, with former member of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) Governing Body, Vishal Pai Cacode, terming it yet another instance of institutional failure to nurture local talent.

Mr. Cacode said the omission reflects a continuing apathy towards Goan cinema despite Goa being the permanent venue for one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious film festivals. “While crores are being spent on red carpets, events and other cosmetic spectacles, Goan cinema is being systematically starved of basic support,” he said.

He pointed out that the Goa Film Finance Scheme, introduced to empower local filmmakers and sustain regional cinema, has become virtually defunct. “Many Goan producers have been struggling for years to access financial assistance, caught in a maze of paperwork, opaque eligibility criteria and bureaucratic indifference,” Mr. Cacode said.

He also criticised ESG for failing to develop even basic filmmaking infrastructure in the State despite hosting IFFI for two decades. “There is still no proper editing studio, equipment bank, crane facility or professional light and sound setup available for local use. This forces young filmmakers to depend on private vendors from outside Goa, pushing up production costs and discouraging new talent,” he said.

Mr. Cacode alleged that ESG’s priorities have shifted from promoting creative pursuits to managing events and awarding contracts. “Instead of investing in sustainable creative infrastructure and supporting Goan stories, ESG seems more focused on event management and commission-driven projects,” he said.

Calling for a course correction, Mr. Cacode said IFFI must once again become “a festival of the people and for the artists, not a playground for contractors and commission agents.” Goa’s film community, he said, deserves more than symbolic gestures, it deserves “opportunity, dignity and a genuine platform to shine.”