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'My Magic,' 'Warlords' to kick off India film fest'Warlords' director Peter Chan also heading juryBy Nyay Bhushan
Nov 11, 2008, 12:13 PM ET



NEW DELHI -- The 39th annual International Film Festival of India will open Nov. 22 in Goa with Hong Kong director Peter Chan's "Warlords" and Eric Khoo's "My Magic" from Singapore, organizers said Tuesday.

Chan will head this year's jury, which also includes Venice Film Festival director Marco Mueller, Iranian actress Niki Karimi, Filipino director Lav Diaz and Indian actress Tabu.

Films from Switzerland and Iran will enjoy a special spotlight at this year's festival, as will the films of John Landis and Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki ("Leningrad Cowboys Go America").

An Indian Panorama section will include such films as "Little Zizou," by writer-director Sooni Taraporevala, and India's Oscar entry this year, "Taare Zameen Par" (Stars on Earth) starring and directed by Bollywood star Aamir Khan. Khan is expected to be the guest of honor at the festival's opening ceremony.

Organized by New Delhi-based government body the Directorate of Film Festivals and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in collaboration with the State Government of Goa, the festival will close Dec. 2 with Iran's 2008 Oscar entry "The Song of Sparrows," by director Majid Majidi.