The opening of the film festival on Saturday also saw the presence of filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar along with Rahul Dholakia. Speaking at the opening ceremony, filmmaker Madhur Bhadarkar said,''these festivals serve as a good platform to encourage filmmakers with different sensibilities. Also, here one gets to interact with people with a midset different from that of the mainstream.'' In reply to a question, Madhur said he was currently working on the script of 'Fashion', his new film based on the going ons in the fashion industry.

''These kinds of film festivals not only encourage young filmmakers but at the same time provide them a platform where they can showcase their work,''said noted film critic Saibal Chatterjee, who started the Indian film Institute as a non profit trust.

The festival derives its concept from the book "young minds of Indian cinema" penned by Saibal Chatterjee along with film historian and deputy director, IFFI, Goa, Manoj Srivastava.

Bsed on the book's concept, the festival presents an interesting trend in Indian cinema wherein ''the larger story of Indian cinema is changing and the concept of negation of hero worship is on the wane''.

Chiefly responsible for this is a group of young independent filmmakers like Madhur Bhandarkar, Vishal Bhardwaj, Rahul Dholakia, Rituparno Ghosh, Vasanth, Sandeep Sawant, Nagesh Kukunoor and to some extent Karan Johar.

Talking to UNI, the author of the book Manoj Srivastava said,''I and Saibal Chatterjee thought that the best way to promote the book is to connect it with this type of film festival.'' UNI AR SB HT1102