MUMBAI: Pahlaj Nihalani declared the fifth edition of the Nashik International Film Festival (NIFF) open at a colourful function at Raosaheb Thorat Hall yesterday.

The festival opened with a short film ‘On the Footprints of Mahatma‘ on veteran social activist Anna Hazare. It was also the world premiere of the 15-minute film that focuses on the projects undertaken by Hazare especially in the field of water conservation in his decades-long life as social activist. The film has been produced by Pune-based lawyer and independent film maker Vasant Patil.

Nearly 200 films and documentaries, including films from Australia and France will be shown at the four-day event organised by the Metro Foundation of India.

Speaking on the occasion, Nihalani said that the country‘s main international film festival should be held in Nashik as it is the native place of Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema.

One of the highlights of NIFF is display of 22 films produced by cinema enthusiasts from Malegaon, a powerloom town near here in north Maharashtra.