MUMBAI: International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will no longer be managed by the Directorate of Film Festivals. The information and broadcasting ministry has reportedly transferred operational responsibilities for IFFI to the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).

IFFI, which is considered as one of the top 10 film festivals of the world, will be held from 20 to 28 November at Panaji in Goa. Renowned filmmakers Jahnu Barua and Nagesh Kukunoor had been chosen to head the steering and technical committees respectively for IFFI.

Earlier, a 40-member preview committee with Vivek Agnihotri as the convenor has been set up to continue the process of shortlisting of films for IFFI.

Indiantelevision.com had reported that the preview committee for shortlisting films for IFFI which had already seen around 150 films had also been dissolved. These changes have coincided with Smriti Zubin Irani taking on additional charge of the information and broadcasting ministry. The preview committee not merely shortlists films from all entries received, but recommends films for competition section which will then be seen by the International jury, and for the Country Focus section of the Festival.

The NFDC had earlier invited entries for the 11th edition of NFDC Film Bazaar Co-Production Market. The co-production market is for feature film projects with South Asian themes. The regular deadline for the entries is 7 August 2017 but it has been extended to 21 August 2017. The Bazaar will be held from 20 November 2017, the day the festival opens, and close on 24 November 2017.