Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network Panaji

Panaji, Sep 7: Goa chief minister Digamber Kamat will meet union information and broadcasting minister Priyarajan Dasmunshi next week to discuss the international film festival of India organisation row.  

"The CM is likely to meet union I & B minister either on Monday or Tuesday in Delhi," Manoj Srivastava, chief executive officer, Entertainment society of Goa, stated. 

ESG, which is a state government run body to host IFFI, has rejected the memorandum of understanding (moU) sent by directorate of film festival.  

Earlier DFF had rejected goa government's draft MoU, which had sought more participation in IFFI 2008 organisation for the state. This had triggered a sour fight between both the stakeholders of IFFI. 

Goa CM, last month, had stated that he would personally visit delhi with a delegation to discuss the issue with Dasmunshi and settle it out. 

The CM's statement followed speculation within the ESG officials that the state may withdraw from IFFI and hold its own film festival par with IFFI, if DFF acts stubborn. 

ESG officials had contended that the state was ready to take over the festival and hence it would be wise on the part of DFF to give more organizational powers to the state government run body. 

ESG is a nodal agency headed by Goa chief minister hosting the IFFI in the state since 2004.  

This year, the festival would be held between November 22 to December two. 

ESG CEO Srivastava had told pti that the body has the capacity and capability to hold the festival bigger than IFFI on their own.  

"ut we would like to continue with IFFI," Srivastava added. 

Goa, which was declared the permanent venue for the festival since 2004, has been holding responsibilities like hospitality, logistic while core functioning lies with the DFF. 

"We have been shouldering major financial burden. This year the state has budgeted Rs eleven crores for the festival while DFF will contribute for Rs 2.75 crores," the CEO had said.  

The ESG officials contend that with senior directorate of film festival officials either retiring or shifting their jobs, they are in a better position to ask for more participation in IFFI. 

Former dff deputy director Srivastava, himself has shifted from DFF to ESG, was looking after Indian programming section while deputy director A Santhanam curating foreign films programming has retired. 

"Dr E N Sajith who was assigned with task of registering delegates too have applied for the voluntary retirement scheme," officials added.   

The ESG had asked for taking over of six areas including four from programming section. The local hosts wants to shoulder delegate registration and responsibility in holding film bazaar.