Tag: Goa

National

Goa Shines at Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025, Showcasing Its Growing Innovation & Startup Ecosystem

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral National Desk

The Goa Pavilion at the 28th Edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 concluded on a high note, drawing significant attention from visitors, international delegates and industry leaders throughout the three-day event at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre. More than 500 attendees visited the pavilion curated by the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications of the Government of Goa, engaging deeply with the state’s digital initiatives, technology projects and startup ecosystem.

The delegation from Goa included Dr. Milind Sakhardande, Shri Subrai Nadkarni, Shri Siddharth Borker, Shri Gaurabh Sawal and Shri D. S. Prashant, who represented the state’s vision for a more connected, technology-forward future. The pavilion welcomed strong international participation with delegates from the UK, Russia, Denmark, Canada and Sweden. A special highlight was the visit from Joel Stafford, Consulate General of Denmark in Bangalore, whose interactions reinforced global interest in Goa’s digital programmes, infrastructure strengths and evolving innovation landscape.

The stall also received attention from global industry leaders exploring Goa as a potential hub for expansion. Nicolas Wojnarowski of NineSigma praised Goa’s potential as an emerging base for major science and technology collaborations, noting the state’s appeal for future development. National industry bodies, academia and ecosystem enablers including TiE Bangalore, KLE, ELCIA and IDFC engaged with the Goa delegation and discussed opportunities for collaboration.

Among the notable interactions, Rama N. S. of ELCITA shared her positive impressions, highlighting Goa’s tangible progress toward developing an electronic city and expanding beyond its identity as a leisure destination. The pavilion also drew interest from various Indian states, with visitors keen to learn about Goa’s approach to digital connectivity, governance, industrial development and its growing identity as a technology-friendly, creative destination.

Young visitors showed particularly strong enthusiasm, reflecting the rising appeal of Goa’s tech and startup culture among emerging innovators. Goan startups including Spintly and Genora Infotech showcased their solutions and attracted considerable engagement. Spintly’s Co-founder Malcolm D’Souza emphasized the importance of such platforms in giving Goa’s technology ecosystem global visibility, while Genora Infotech CEO Milind Prabhu shared his excitement about representing the state with their platform VoxIntel.

As the summit concludes, the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications carries forward valuable connections that strengthen Goa’s identity as India’s Creative Capital and a rising hub for innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-driven growth.

EduConnect

Goa CM Pradmod Sawant Congratulates PACT Foundation Scholars Selected for QS Youth Impact Summit 2025in London

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, met the three winners of the PACT Foundation’s Scholar Programme who have been selected to represent Goa and India at the QS Youth Impact Summit 2025 in London, UK. The meeting, held at Mahalakshmi, Altinho, underscored the State Government’s encouragement of youth leadership and sustainability-focused initiatives for Goan students. During the interaction, the Chief Minister warmly congratulated the students and emphasised the increasing importance of sustainability research, environmental stewardship, and youth-led innovation. He urged them to make the most of this rare global opportunity, explore best practices in London, and return with ideas that could contribute meaningfully to Goa’s development. He encouraged them to learn deeply and bring back knowledge that would benefit the community.

PACT Foundation, a Goa-based NGO working to uplift the education sector, has been leading several school-upgradation and youth-development initiatives across the state, including the Happy School Project. As part of its mission to empower young Goans, the foundation conducted the PACT Scholar Programme for the QS Youth Impact Summit 2025 through a statewide college competition followed by rigorous interviews. From this process, three exceptional students were selected to represent Goa at the global summit: Ms. Sumaiya Khan from St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa; Ms. Andrea Cardoso from Rosary College of Commerce and Arts, Navelim; and Ms. Raisa Mariette Pinto from V. M. Salgaocar College of Law, Panaji.

Dr. Ashwin Fernandes, Founder of PACT Foundation, briefed the Chief Minister on the organisation’s broader initiatives in Goa and its commitment to empowering young Goans under the Yuva Shakti movement, aligned with the national vision of nurturing globally aware, socially responsible youth leaders. The Chief Minister presented certificates of recognition to the three students and extended his best wishes as they prepare to represent Goa on the global stage. The event was also attended by PACT Foundation members Ms. Amelia Ferrao, Co-Founder, and Mr. Darryl Fernandes, Project Executive, marking an inspiring moment for youth empowerment in Goa.

Events in Goa

Dr. Pramod Sawant Inaugurated the Goa Section at the 56th International Film Festival of India

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Dr. Pramod Sawant inaugurated the Goa Section at the 56th International Film Festival of India, marking a significant moment for Goan cinema and its growing presence on national and international platforms. The ceremony was followed by the screening of the Konkani film Halad, directed by Sobita Kudtadkar, which opened the Goa Section this year.

Dr. Sawant expressed pride in the resilience and passion of Goan filmmakers, acknowledging their dedication to preserving the region’s storytelling heritage despite numerous challenges. He highlighted that Goan cinema has always been driven by creativity, cultural pride and a commitment to authentic narratives.

This year’s edition of IFFI features two Goan films—Claudia and The Pilot—in the prestigious Gala Premiere Section, a testament to the growing strength of the local film industry. Additionally, five films were selected for the Goa Section: Zero Bulb, Halad, My Dad Invented the Vadapav, Meraki, By the Sea and Ghar.

Dr. Sawant extended his best wishes to all the filmmakers whose works are being showcased, emphasizing that their achievements continue to inspire future generations of Goan storytellers. The inauguration reflected both celebration and hope, positioning Goan cinema to shine even more brightly on the global stage.

Events in Goa

NFDC Tableau Shines at the 56th IFFI Opening Parade in Goa

allycaralgoa

The opening parade of the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa delivered a stunning visual spectacle, featuring a vibrant mix of cultural troupes and creative entries from production houses across the country. Among these, the NFDC (National Film Development Corporation) tableau stood out as one of the most eye-catching and thoughtfully crafted highlights of the event.

This year’s NFDC tableau captured widespread admiration for its elegant design and engaging moving components. The centrepiece—a massive projector equipped with dynamic projection lights—brought an immersive visual energy to the parade. Through this striking installation, NFDC creatively portrayed the evolution and milestones of Indian cinema.

Widely regarded as an organisation that reshaped Indian filmmaking and pioneered the new wave cinema movement, NFDC used the tableau to beautifully narrate its cinematic journey. The display also integrated its aligned verticals—NMIC (National Museum of Indian Cinema) and NFAI (National Film Archive of India)—through seamless and artistic visual representation.

The content curation was led by Satyajit Mandle, DGM, NMIC, while the art direction and production design were executed by Mahendra Potadar, under the guidance of NFDC’s Managing Director Prakash Magdum.

Commanding attention for its creativity, sophistication, and storytelling depth, the NFDC tableau emerged as one of the most memorable and classy installations at the IFFI 56 parade, earning praise from visitors, filmmakers, and festival participants alike.

Events in Goa

Grand Parade Marks Historic, Carnival-Style Opening of 56th IFFI in Panaji

allycaralgoa

Panaji witnessed a historic and spectacular opening to the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI 2025) as the festival kicked off with its first-ever grand parade on 20 November. In a departure from tradition, IFFI embraced an open, carnival-style inauguration that brought cinema directly to the people.

The parade completely transformed DB Road into a dazzling cultural stretch, as floats from film production houses, state pavilions, animation studios, and performing troupes moved from the Old Goa Medical College building to the Kala Academy. Over two dozen floats participated, including 12 presented by the Goa government, each portraying vibrant themes inspired by India’s cinematic heritage, regional arts, and animation.

One of the most striking segments of the parade was the large-scale folk production “Bharat Ek Soor”, staged by the Central Bureau of Communication under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. Featuring more than 100 artists, the performance showcased traditional dance forms from across the country, creating an energetic and culturally rich spectacle.

The appearance of beloved animated characters—including Chhota Bheem, Motu Patlu, and Bittu Bahanebaaz—added a playful and heartwarming element to the parade, drawing cheers from children and adults alike.

The atmosphere throughout Panaji was festive and immersive, reflecting Goa’s iconic carnival spirit. Thousands of locals, tourists, students, and delegates lined the streets to witness the vibrant floats, live music, dance performances, and cultural showcases. What had traditionally been a closed-door opening ceremony became a public celebration, allowing the community to be at the heart of the festival’s excitement.

The grand parade not only set a joyful and inclusive tone for the nine-day film festival but also marked a significant step towards making IFFI more accessible and engaging for all.