The Consul Of Bordeaux, directed by Portuguese filmmaker Manuel Gonzales, will open this year’s International Film Festival of India (IFFI) which takes place in the former Portuguese colony of Goa (Nov 23-Dec 3).

The film tells the story of Portuguese general consul Aristides de Sousa Mendes who saved the lives of 30,000 Jewish refugees when stationed in France during World War II.

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan will attend the opening ceremony in Margao on Nov 23. French filmmaker Luc Besson is also expected to attend the festival for a retrospective of his films including The Big Blue, Leon and The Fifth Element.

Other highlights of the festival include a retrospective of the work of Australian director Phillip Noyce, a country focus on US films and sidebars on classic Russian films, animation and 3D films, including Werner Herzog’s Cave Of Forgotten Dreams and Wim Wenders’ Pina.

The Indian Panorama will screen 24 films including opening film Urumi, directed by Santosh Sivan, and Malayalam-language Abu, Son Of Adam which is India’s submission for the best foreign-language film category at next year’s Academy Awards.

The fest will hand out $200,000 in prize money to the winners of best film, director, actor and actress, the jury prize and the lifetime achievement award. This year’s lifetime achievement award will go to French filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier.

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