New Delhi: Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, along with actor Vinay Pathak inaugurated the Indian Panorama Film Festival (IPFF) here Saturday.
Also present for the inauguration at the Siri Fort Auditorium here was director Ananth Narayan Mahadevan and Information and Broadcasting Secretary Bimal Julka.
"It makes me proud that the government is working at a level that is generally observed in the corporate sector. I am proud to tell you that the standard of this auditorium is among the top 50 auditoriums in the country," Rathore said as he inaugurated the gala.
"Like the western culture left its impact on our society, it is now time that our culture impacts the world in a similar manner," he added.
The festival will feature films selected in the Indian Panorama 2014 as a part of the 45th International Film Festival of India. Being organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals, the event will screen 26 feature films and 15 non-feature films over eight days, starting Saturday.
IPFF opened with the Hindi feature film "Gour Hari Dastaan - The Freedom File", directed by Mahadevan.
"I would like to thank Rajyavardhan sir for giving us the opportunity to showcase our film 'Gour Hari Dastaan - The Freedom File' here," said Pathak.
Entry to the screenings is free on first come first serve basis with a valid photo identity card.
Mahadevan also thanked the minister and the Directorate of Film Festivals for opening the festival with his film.
Acclaimed indie films like Shabnam Sukhdev's "The Last Adieu," Avinash Arun's "Killa" and Rajat Kapoor directorial "Ankhon Dekhi" will be screened at the gala.