GUWAHATI: Dadasaheb Phalke Award winning film-maker Adoor Gopalakrishnan who is attending the first Guwahati International Film Festival GIFF ) in the city said this festival will help film-makers from the region study and understand world cinema and expand their vision."A region which is otherwise neglected will benefit hugely from the festival in the long run," said the 76-year-old Malayalam film-maker, adding that film-makers from here had to go other places to watch world cinema, but now global cinema has come to them."I am sure that 10 years down the line, a new generation of film-makers will come up from here," said Gopalakrishnan, who was honoured with the British Film Institute Award for his film-'Elippathayam'-in 1981.The festival is being organized by the state government owned Jyoti Chitraban (film studio) Society in association with the Dr Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute.It started on October 28 and will continue till November 2. More than 75 films are being screened here from over 32 countries. Gopalakrishnan, who has won national awards at least 16 times, will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony on Thursday.Congratulating the organizers, Gopalakrishnan said the role of the government in conducting such events is very crucial."I'm overwhelmed by the ambience here and it's great to see the support of the state government. To conduct an event of this magnitude is costly," added Gopalakrishnan, who is an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India.Festival director Monita Borgohain said the organizers are encouraged by the overwhelming response of the people. "We are happy at the response of the people. Over 5,000 delegates registered themselves at the festival," said Borgohain.

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