Mumbai – The Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan, Mumbai and Pune Film Festival, Pune in a collective venture, in association with the Government of Maharashtra have organized the ‘5th Yashwantrao International Film Festival (YIFF) 2015. The inauguration ceremony of this festival was held today on Saturday, 17th January at 5pm in the main auditorium of Y B Chavan Centre, Mumbai. YIFF was inaugurated at the hands of the President of Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan and the former Union Minister Honb’l Sharad Pawar. The Chairperson of Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan Honb’l Supriya Sule, Vice President Arun Gujrathi, Treasurer Hemant Takle, General Secretary Sharad Kale, Director of YIFF Dr Jabbar Patel, actor Anupam Kher and the Director of ‘Like the Wind’, the winning Italian film of PIFF (Pune International Film Festival) Marco Puccioni also attended this event in Mumbai.
The Veteran Indian Actor Anupam Kher was felicitated with an ‘Outstanding contribution to Indian cinema’ award during this ceremony at the hands of Sharad Pawar. Splendid performance of the Indian classical musician and a renowned percussionist Ustad Taufiq Qureshi graced the inaugural function. Around 71 films from around the world will be screened during YIFF from 17th to 23rd January 2015. The winning film of Pune International Film Festival (PIFF), ‘Like the Mind’ was screened as the opening film of the festival.
While introducing the 5th Yashwant International Film Festival MP Supriya Sule said “cinema unites, builds friendship and integrates different countries and hence international film festivals like 5th YIFF are necessary to be organized”.
Anupam Kher was delighted to receive an award at the hands of Sharad Pawar. He did not even miss the chance to click a ‘selfie’ with Pawar. While speaking on the occasion Pawar said, “I am glad to felicitate versatile artist Anupam Kher at the 5th Yashwant International Film Festival for his outstanding contribution to the Indian cinema”. Anupam Kher in return thanked the film festival and Sharad Pawar for considering him worthy of the award. He mentioned while speaking here that consistent and hopeful efforts are must for success because ‘Kuch bhi ho sakta hai’ (Anything can happen).
“Yashwantrao Chavan was not only a great leader but a keen art lover as well. Hence, when this international film festival was conceptualised, it ought to be in his name”, Pawar said while speaking here.
Ambrish Mishra welcomed everyone in the ceremony and the General Secretary of Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan Sharad Kale gave a vote of thanks.
Around 71 films in various languages like French, Arabic, Swedish, Marathi, Malayalam, English etc from different countries around the world will be screened at the 5th Yashwant International Film Festival.
source : Lokesh Shastri