New Delhi, Dec 10 (IANS) The information and broadcasting ministry Thursday announced the setting up of two panels comprising eminent film personalities to raise the profile of National Film Awards (NFA)and upgrade International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to the status enjoyed by Cannes and Berlin shows.
The expert committee for National Film Awards will comprise iconic fimmakers and actors like Shyam Benegal, Mohan Agashe, Sai Paranjpye, Sharmila Tagore and Waheeda Rehman.

The panel also includes Ashok Vishwanathan, Rajiv Mehrotra, Vishal Bhardwaj, Nagesh Kukunoor, Jahnu Barua, Shaji Karun as well as a senior official from the information and broadcasting ministry and director of Directorate of Film Festival.

The panel will make recommendations for upgradation of National Film Awards for feature, non-feature and best writing on cinema and the Dada Saheb Phalke Award and explore the changes in the regulations governing these awards.

The expert committee for IFFI includes Govind Nihalani, Karan Johar, Pritish Nandy, Prasoon Joshi, Kamal Haasan, A.K. Bir, Laxmikant Shetgaonkar, C.S. Sapra along with Shabana Azmi, Pooja Shetty Deora, Kishwar Desai, Maithili Rao and Nandita Das.

The panel will also include joint secretary (films), in the information and broadcasting ministry as Member Secretary, Chief Secretary, Government of Goa and Director, Directorate of Film Festival.

Ever since Ambika Soni became information and broadcasting minister in May, she has been actively involved in giving a global profile to Indian films that are becoming increasingly popular across the world, but are yet to register their presence in major international film festivals.