MUMBAI: India, as the biggest film industry in the world, has charmed Italian and Mexican directors whose films are a part of the World Panorama at the 44th International Film Festival of India.

Antonia Piazza and Fabio Grassadonia, joint directors of a mafia thriller Salvo and Eduardo Rossoff who directed a Belgian film Let me Survive were addressing a press conference at the media centre on 22 November.   

“I am thrilled to be here. India is the biggest movie making country in the world. It is a humbling experience being here,” Rossoff said.

Piazza said that this was his first time in India and that his Italian-French production, which cost one million Euros, had already picked up two awards at the Cannes film festival.

“Our films are being distributed in 20 countries,” Piazza said. His film is set in Sicily and is about a blind girl and a protagonist who is a mafia boss.

Piazza was thankful to the efforts taken by new and upcoming actress Sara Serraiocco, who plays the blind girl in the film.

“We blindfolded her for days. Even during the rehearsals she was blindfolded so she could learn to find her way. During the actual shooting we used opaque contact lenses,” Piazzo said.

Eduardo Rossoff, a Mexican who has made a Belgian film which his being screened at the festival, said that India resembled Mexico a lot.

“There is the same chaos, love for spicy food and love for the people which Mexico has,” Rossoff said, adding that it made him feel like staying on here forever.

“Its phenomenal being here because Mexico is 30 hours by flight and that there is interest here in my movie,” Rossoff said.

Fabio Grassadonina, who was also present on the occasion, said that this was his first film as director.