THE PERILS of conducting IFFI at Goa reached a new high, owing to the faulty ticketing system introduced by ESG (Entertainment Society of Goa), even before IFFI is formally inaugurated tonight (23rd November).

In fact, in his earlier article on Merinews:  Link: http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=125063 the writer had categorically stated the reasons containing IFFI from being a world-class festival.

It seems the officials just read the head-line IFFI and MAMI can Can(nes) and not the entire article, for they hurriedly introduced ticketing system (as is the norm at international film festivals) for IFFI.

Will ticketing system alone ensure IFFI a status as reputed as Cannes?

Definitely not, unless, the ESG officials change their perspective with regards to their functioning.

The writer himself went to check the much hyped ticketing system on the morning of 23rd November 2007.

The time for ticketing counters to open was 0800 hrs.?

Why were the ticket counters not opened at 0800 hrs.?

Why out of 15 counters, supposed to be operational, only two counters at INOX were operational?

Why even those two counters opened at 0830 hrs.?

Why after five minutes of functioning, the assistant manager – ticketing, said that the ticketing will be closed for the time being and will resume at 1500 hrs.?

Why there wasn’t any prior intimation to the delegates that ticket counters will open at 1500 hrs. on 23rd November?

The reason assistant manager – ticketing cited was “the systems are faulty”.

This triggers off another set of questions.

Why were there no mock runs prior to the festival?

Why were the problems in ticketing system, if any, not tended to at the mock run stage itself?

Though, the faulty-system story was merely an eyewash; how else do the ESG officials explain that after closing down ticketing counters for five minutes at INOX; when the angry delegates took assistant manager – ticketing head on, the counters were thrown open.

The ticketing system has come in for a lot of flak from the delegates, media and professionals alike.

Mehboob, an elderly IFFI lover from Pune says, “I have been watching IFFI for the last 20 years, however, ever-since its shift to Goa, the festival is losing its charm. Now with this ticketing system, people have to queue up as early as 7 in the morning.”

Gauri, another delegate adds, “its all about the attitude, ESG officials need a crash-course in being more friendly, at least they can fake a smile on their face.”

With all this trouble brewing even before the festival has formally kicked off, one can well imagine the scenario as it progresses. “Forget Cannes, Rotterdam or Venice; IFFI is getting worse than even a private-organized festival like MAMI. I definitely don’t want the tax I pay to be utilized in organizing this crap” Maneka, from Mumbai gives the final lowdown.