The 35th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) (Nov29-Dec 9) will open with Vanity Fair, directed by Indian born film-makerMira Nair. The government backed film festival is being held in Goa for thefirst time.

Neelam Kapur, director of the film festival told ScreenDaily.com,"IFFI will reflect India's identity in the world of cinema and promote ourentertainment sector which is really the next sunrise industry after the ITboom in India'.

The festival jury consists of veteran Indian director and producerMani Ratnam, Locarno director Irene Bignardi, Egyptian actor Mahmoud Kabil,Senegalese director Moussa Sene Absa, and German director Florian Gallenberger,who shot his debut feature film Shadows of Time in India.

The festival is also going to be celebrating the World AidsDay on 1st December 2004 by screening three feature films on AIDS and having aCinema against AIDS events on that day.

The Government of India and the state government of Goa havesigned a memorandum of understanding for the organizing of the 35thInternational Film Festival of India in Goa.

A major infrastructure is being developed in Goa for thefilm festival, including a brand new multiplex which will be launched duringthe event.