Hindi
FFI decides to boycott the IFFI 2012 for being ignored at every stage
New Delhi: The Film Federation of India, the apex body of the film industry, has decided to boycott all activities of the International Film Festival of India in Goa in November to protest it being by-passed and not being called to any Steering and other committee meetings.
In fact, it was informed about the Industry Coordination Committee meeting as late as August-end by which time some major discussions that are normally taken at this meeting had already been taken by the Directorate of Film Festivals and IFFI Secretariat.
FFI at its annual general meeting late last week in Mumbai where members from all over India were present unanimously decided that the federation will not participate in any of the activities of IFFI.
FFI has always been an essential component of the Steering Committee and its members actively involved in various other committees and sub-committees such as theatre, technical, hospitality and others. But this has not happened in recent years and ‘FFI can only assume that either the committees have been discontinued or FFI has been kept out of them.‘
According to FFI President Vinod Lamba, ‘it is now learnt that DFF has already taken all major decisions without calling for any joint meeting, or holding any discussions with the FFI; or even informing FFI.‘
In fact, in 2011, the time-honoured tradition of the vote of thanks being delivered by the FFI President at the IFFI opening had been done away with at the level of the DFF ‘with no proper and timely information being conveyed formally to the Information & Broadcasting Ministry or FFI.‘
Lamba added, ‘While this callous misadventure may appear to have been nipped in the bud and status quo restored, the deliberate mishandling of affairs at the inauguration event itself conveyed a greater affront to the persona and position of the FFI President, prompting the Minister (Mrs Ambika Soni) herself to rush on stage to take corrective action.‘
The IFFI by its very tenets is a festival held jointly by the government and the Indian film industry, and FFI being the apex body of the industry ‘has been playing their part with total sincerity and efficiency.‘
However, the same cannot be said of the Directorate of Film Festivals which has been persistently neglecting and slighting the FFI, in all matters that were once decided jointly.
Talking to indiantelevision.com, Lamba added that despite an assurance of remedial action, it seems that the insensitiveness seems to have gathered strength; instead of involving the FFI and through it the industry from the early stages, it seems that the DFF/IFFI Secretariat is bent on sidelining the industry in the major decision making processes, reaching out to it only in times of dire need of correcting embarrassing foul ups. At the same time, he stressed that FFI has never shied away from providing assistance.
Expressing surprise at the decision, IFFI Director Shankar Mohan told indiantelevision.com that he had been in constant touch with the film industry and it was erroneous to say they had been kept out. There has been constant coordination with the FFI, the Film and Television Producers Guild, and the Confederation of Cine Employees.
He added that only two committees had been formed this year – the Steering Committee and a Technical Committee.
He said he had been personally trying for the last month to arrange a meeting of the Industry Coordination Committee, but had failed to get a response.
Hindi
Rajesh Ramaswamy exits The Script Room to focus on filmmaking journey
Ad filmmaker steps away from own venture to pursue direction and storytelling
MUMBAI: In a move that has caught the attention of the advertising and creative community, Rajesh Ramaswamy has announced his exit from The Script Room, the company he co-founded, marking the end of a seven-year stint at the helm.
The decision, which came into effect earlier this month, signals a shift in focus for Ramaswamy, who is now looking to immerse himself fully in filmmaking and direction as an independent creative.
Known for blending sharp advertising insight with storytelling craft, Ramaswamy has been instrumental in shaping The Script Room into a creative hub that delivered campaigns, branded content, and original storytelling formats. Over the years, the company collaborated with agencies, directors, and a wide network of writers, while also experimenting with formats such as short films and web series.
Sharing his thoughts on the transition, Ramaswamy indicated that the move is driven by a desire to focus and explore stories he has been developing over time. While he acknowledged the unconventional nature of stepping away from one’s own venture, he also framed it as a necessary leap toward clarity and creative pursuit.
Importantly, The Script Room will continue its operations with its current team and leadership, with Ramaswamy expressing confidence in the group that helped build the company’s identity. The studio, he noted, remains well-positioned to evolve further with fresh talent and ideas.
His exit also reflects a wider industry trend, where experienced advertising professionals are increasingly transitioning into independent filmmaking, tapping into the growing opportunities across digital and long-form content platforms.
As Ramaswamy steps into this new phase, the move underscores a familiar creative instinct, sometimes, the boldest ideas begin with a clean break.
