Pranav Birje | Senior Correspondent
Dr. Pramod Sawant, Honble Chief Minister of Goa inaugurated the prestigious festival at Inox Panaji in the presence of Smt. Delilah M Lobo, MLA, Siolim Constituency and Vice Chairperson of ESG, Shri. Damu Naik, film personality and Ex Vice Chairman of ESG, Shri Rohit Monserrate, CCP Mayor, Panaji, Shri Sarpreet Singh Gill, IAS, Secretary, Dept. of Info. and Publicity, Shri. Ashwin Chandru, IAS, CEO of ESG, Shri. Dipak Bandekar, Director, Dept. of Info & Publicity and other dignitaries.
Smt. Delilah M Lobo, welcomed the esteemed Guests of the function.
The main highlight of the opening ceremony was the presence of Mohammad Ali, actor, comedian and television presenter who has worked in more than 1200 films in Telugu and other various languages. The event also saw a performance by noted singer Jolly Mukherjee, Goas own Mukesh Ghatwal, and an act by Chala Hawa Yeu dya fame Sagar Karande and Ankur Wadhave.
The winners of the 48 hours Short film competition was announced by the Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant. This list of the winners is as below:-
Best Film First prize Ful ani Savli (Flower and Shade)
Best Film Second prize Before Sunrise
Best Director- Glen Cardozo (Ful ani Savli)
Best Cinematographer- Tejas V. Naik (Ful ani Savli)
Best Editor- Yuri B. Carvalho (Ful ani Savli)
Best Actor (Male) – Niraj Arrie (Lift)
Best Actor (Female) – Rati Bhatikar (Ful ani Savli)
The awards will be distributed during the closing ceremony day i.e. 17th August 2025 and the award winning films will be screened on the same day at 11.15 am at Maquinez palace, Panaji.
Shri. Dipak Bandekar, Director, Dept of Info & Publicity proposed the vote of Thanks.
Several leading cinema personalities from all over Goa were also present on the auspicious occasion.
The Festival will go on over a period of 4 days i.e. Sunday 17th August 2025 with a total screening of 19 Feature Films and 4 Non-Feature Film.
There will also be food court and handicraft stalls at INOX courtyard from 14th to 17th August 2025.
For registration and more details kindly visit the site www.esg.co.in