From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Nov 3: Indian animation characters will rub shoulders with international and Indian cinema icons during the International film festival of India (IFFI) 2009 scheduled in Goa, this november end.

The IFFI 2009 will have special retrospective of Indian Animation Films showcasing nearly 50 films produced in India. Country’s apex animation film body, The Animation Society of India (TASI), has joined hands with Goa-government run Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) to curate this section.

“This is for the first time in any international film festival that the special section is devoted to Indian Animation Films,” ESG’s Chief executive officer, Manoj Srivastava, said.

The wide spectrum of films ranging from early animations to the latest animated flicks will be presented in this section, which is a part of Short Film Centre.

TASI has planned eight workshops on animations during the eleven day event which would be kicked off on November 23 at Panaji and Margao cities of Goa simultenously.

Srivastava said that TASI will bring expertise to Goa which will train the new talents in this field during the event. “Every big animator of the country will be present for the festival,” he added.

The ESG CEO, who himself is a filmmaker, said that animation industry in India is growing but its hindered because producing such films in the country is a costly affair.

“All other countries produce animation films and they have a huge distribution network for a backup which reduces their cost,” he added.

Srivastava, however, said that Indian animation film content is of high value in moralistic terms. “We are not able to compete because there are not too many avenues for distribution,” he said.

The workshops held as a part of short film centre will also train the delegates on voicing of animation and documentaries.