The big stars may be missing this year but that didn't matter. With its sun, sand and sizzle, Goa is the perfect place for a film festival.Not that I would know much. I spent most of my time huddled at the media centre buried under an onslaught of press conferences and stories. Films! What films? For the first eight days of the fest, I hadn't watched any. By the ninth day, I was sapped and headed for the India premiere of the French blockbuster Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra - a decision I will never regret.
Do catch up on this wonderful creation of Alain Chabat which features Monica Belucci as the gorgeous Cleopatra and loads of rib-tickling moments. The dubbed version of the film (in English, Hindi and other languages) hits Indian theatres around Christmas 2005.
The only other film which I managed to catch was another French flick - Cannes winner L'Enfant - a thought-provoking film which held audiences transfixed to the screen.
Of course, next year's film festival will be a different ballgame altogether now that Johnny Depp is expected to drop in for a visit.
Here are some of the 50-plus stories this tiresome PTI journalist turned in as others were busy watching films or cruising along in luxury liners or shaking a leg at PIB dos. Sigh! Even rival agency correspondent Faizal Khan got a peck on the cheeks from French supermodel Noemie Lenoir while poor yours truly got left out of all the action.
Rajnikant gets set to jive in French film
Aishwarya Rai to star in Asterix flick
Reddy for global stars to promote IFFI
Big B makes it to IFFI in a sketchbook
IFFI faces desi competition in Goa
First Indo-Italian film to roll in 2006
IFFI loses out on Satyajit Ray film
Filmmaker turns poster boy for IFFI
Italian maestro misses date with IFFI
Iranian film wins Golden Peacock
Britain draws a blank at IFFI
Dholakia stands by his film on Godhra
Taal's UK extra comes to IFFI
Italians say mama mia to Sonali
Bond in movie theatre after 25 years
Indian docu to premiere in NY
Godhra film leads to fracas at IFFI
Premieres rock the boat at IFFI
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