Hyderabad International Film Festival was launched today at a function held at Lalitha Kala Thoranam, Nampally. Shabbir Ali (Minister for Cinematography) launched the event and declared the film festival open. This function is also graced by Dr. Noureddine Bardad-Daidj (Amabassador of Algeria), Hossein Ravesh (Consul General of Iran), Ms. Nabile Salama (Consul General of Egypt), Philippe Martinet (Cultural Counselor, New Delhi), K Viswanath, B Narsing Rao, Tammareddy Bharadwaja, Gowtam Ghosh, Neelakanta, Indraganti Mohana Krishna, Dasarath, Jayasudha etc attended this event.

Minister Shabbir Ali said, “I would like to thank the organizers for conducting an international film festival. Congress Government always helped Telugu film industry as it gives livelihood to 1000’s of family. CM YSR was supposed to grace this occasion, but could not come because of urgent official work.”

Prakash Reddy said, “It is like a dream for us. We are screening films from all over the world in this festival. This will directly help the people of Telugu film industry. I would like to request the government to give a place to organize ‘Hyderabad Film Club’ activities. At present we are operating from Saradhi Studios’”

Veteran director K Viswanath opined that festivals like these will put Telugu films on international map.

Director B Narsing Rao said, “It is a proud moment for all of us. We are doing it in simple way this time. We will do it in a grand way next year.”

The foreign delegates too wished success.

Director Gowtam Ghosh said, “My film Yatra is due for the release on May 4th all over India. I am happy to see that Yatra is the first film to be screened in this festival. My first film Maa Bhumi is a Telugu film. And Yatra film too has Hyderabad backdrop.”

Tammareddy Bharadwaja requested the Government to consider building 4 theaters for the use of film festival which is going to happen every year. It would help the development of films in Hyderabad, he added.