When the Jharkhand International Film Festival Awards (JIFFA) was inaugurated on Friday by State Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs minister Amar Bauri, this film event has highlighted one undergoing reality-the state has become a film making hub.

The credit goes to Raghubar Das led BJP government for formulating the film policy. This policy has encouraged artists, actors and filmmakers to make more than three dozen films during the past two years.

“Earlier, Jharkhand was only known for its mineral reserves. Now, with the introduction of the Jharkhand Film Policy, it is gaining ground for filmmaking,” said Minister Bauri who inaugurated this festival on Friday. 

Indeed, after Jharkhand was one of the best contributors in the Goa Film Festival last year. Among popular Bollywood and small screen, actors felicitated at the ceremony. Hemant Pandey, Rajesh Jayesh and Pawan Sharma were the main attractions. 

Pandey, famous as Pandeyji from TV series ‘Office Office’, lauded the efforts put in to organize the film festival. On the second day of the event, film lovers were appreciating the organizers.

“The event has helped us as well as filmmakers. In consequence, new innovative films will keep releasing and give us reasons to smile,” another film lover present at the Khel Gaon in Ranchi said.

Renowned actor Rajesh Jais, who has acted in films like ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ and Raazi, attended JIFFA for the second consecutive occasion.“Such events boost the filmmaking tradition. It will help Jharkhand achieve the desired results in the field of filmmaking,” he said.

Actors and filmmakers from Israel, Afghanistan, France and Poland too graced the event with their presence on Friday-Saturday. Besides actors and filmmakers, senior bureaucrats from foreign shores graced the event with their presence. 

Reuma Mantuzar, Cultural Attache at the Embassy of Israel and Sediqullah Sahar, Education Attache at the Embassy of Afghanistan attended the inaugural day of the festival and seemed impressed with the arrangements.

 “Day and two were successful. All the invitees, including the ones from foreign countries, attended the festival and appreciated it,” said Pankaj Soni, Vice President, JIFFA.

Besides Tana Bhagat Indoor Stadium, at least two other air-conditioned portable cinema halls screened films on Friday. ‘Phulmania’, a Nagpuri film shot in Ranchi, has grabbed attention for its direction and storytelling.

Besides, a six-minute short film, Why So Serious gave a social message about the importance of happiness. Ironically, technical snags marred the otherwise grand inaugural day of JIFFA here on Friday.

 The proceedings had to be stalled once in the afternoon, forcing the actors and directors occupying the stage to take a break after a sudden power failure caused due to technical problems.

The organizers had automatic generators in place to fight power cuts. However, the unexpected power failure that lasted for about 10 minutes in the afternoon was caused due to glitches in the wiring, sources said.

“There was no power cut. We have generators in place to tackle that. The interruption was caused due to some technical snag,” said Pankaj Soni, Vice President, JIFFA.

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