MUMBAI: Star Movies has again chosen to be associated with the Sixth International Film Festival that kicks off in Mumbai tomorrow.

The highlight of this year's event is the Chinese film, Warriors of Heaven & Earth which will inaugurate the festival. The music for the film has been composed by noted musician A R Rehman. Principal secretary, cultural affairs, Maharashtra government, Govind Swaroop says the festival would not have been possible without the support provided by Star Movies that has tied up with the festival for the third time in a row. "It is their love of good movies that brings them in each year", says Swaroop, pointing out that the association does not proffer any commercial gain for the channel.

The festival will be inaugurated on Thursday by Maharashtra chief minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and actor-director Aparna Sen will be the guest of honour. Filmmakers Vijay Anand and veteran composer Naushad Ali will be felicitated for their contribution to Indian cinema with Lifetime Achievement Award and Outstanding Contribution to Film Music Award respectively. 80 films from 28 countries will be screened in this 7-day international event.

Manish Jha's Matrubhoomi, which won the FIPRESCI Award at this year's Cannes Film Festival will be the closing film of the Festival on 27 November 2003.

For the first time at the festival, a competition for Indian Feature Films will be held for which 13 entries have already been received, according to Swaroop. This jury will be headed by veteran writer Vijay Tendulkar. The other members of the jury will come from France, Italy & Switzerland.