New Delhi. Veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, known for films like “Mr India”, “Bandit Queen” and “Elizabeth”, has been appointed as the festival director for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The Information and Broadcasting Ministry said in a notification that Kapur will head the 55th and 56th editions of the international film festival held every year in Goa.
The notification said, “Based on the approval of the competent authority, Shekhar Kapur has been appointed as the Festival Director for the 55th and 56th editions of the International Film Festival of India to be held in Goa.” Kapoor said that it is an honor for him to be appointed as the Director of the International Film Festival of India.
“It’s an honour. It’s a commitment. It’s a responsibility. Thank you for trusting me,” he said in a post on the social media platform X, tagging the ministry. 78-year-old Kapoor is an influential figure in Indian cinema. He is one of the first directors to gain fame in Hollywood with the film ‘Elizabeth’ and its sequel ‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age’.
Kapoor has directed Hindi films like ‘Masoom’, ‘Mr. India’ and ‘Bandit Queen’. He recently directed the British comedy film ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It?’ Shekhar Kapoor was appointed the chairman of the international competition jury at the 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India. He has also been the chairman of the Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India from 2020-2023.