Goan Cinema : Promotion or discrimination : Vishal Pai Cacode

Goa Khabar : The Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) finds itself trapped in its own contradictions as the Rules for Goan Section at IFFI 2025 directly deny Goan filmmakers the very benefits promised under the Goa Scheme of Financial Assistance for Films 2016. While the government claims to be “promoting Konkani cinema,” the fine print of its own regulations delivers the exact opposite, discrimination wrapped in the language of promotion, stated former Governing Body Member of ESG Vishal Pai Cacode.

He further elaborated that “Clause 9(C) and 9(D) of the Goa Film Finance Scheme clearly provide additional assistance of 5 lakh for feature films and 2.5 lakh for non-feature films screened at any FIAPF-recognised international film festival including IFFI Goa. This provision has been celebrated as an incentive for Goan filmmakers to reach global platforms. Yet unbelievably, the Regulations governing the Goan Section for IFFI 2025 now render the five Goan films selected this year ineligible to receive these benefits. When the scheme says “support,” but the rules say “deny,” what exactly is ESG’s policy? questioned Vishal Pai Cacode.

This bizarre contradiction raises a fundamental question: Is the government truly encouraging Goan cinema or systematically sidelining it? The Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant speaks of promoting Konkani films, but ESG’s regulations show a glaring disconnect between rhetoric and reality. The rules appear tailor-made to block Goan filmmakers from rightfully availing the benefits already notified by the government itself, Pai Cacode said.

Adding to the confusion is the sudden elevation of the controversial film Claudia. The film was rejected by the Jury of the Indian Panorama Section, yet has now found its way into IFFI 2025 through a backdoor route under Special Presentation or Gala Premiere categories. If a film deemed “not good enough” for Indian Panorama is now being quietly pushed into a special showcase, the question arises: Will it be selectively granted financial benefits that the five legitimately selected Goan films are being denied?, Vishal Pai Cacode asked.

If Claudia receives financial assistance while the officially selected Goan films are deprived of the same, it would expose not just favouritism but a systemic manipulation of policies. Such actions destroy the credibility of IFFI as a transparent festival and erode the confidence of Goa’s film fraternity, who continue to struggle for basic recognition and timely support, said Vishal Pai Cacode.

ESG and the Government of Goa must immediately clarify: Are Goan filmmakers being promoted, or discriminated against? Until these contradictions are resolved and the financial assistance is released without bias, Goa’s Film Finance Scheme risks becoming yet another policy that looks good on paper but fails the very people it claims to uplift, stated Vishal Pai Cacode.