PANAJI - Laxmikant Shetgaonkar, a Goan director who won an award at the 34th Toronto film festival, Friday criticises the state government for giving a cold shoulder to filmmakers and allowing businessmen to control creative and cultural endeavours in the state.

“I do not want to dig into the past. But I would like you to look into cinema movement professionally and seriously,” the filmmaker said, during a state-sponsored felicitation ceremony attended by the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Bollywood actress Shabana Azmi.

Shetgaonkar’s film “Pultodcho Monis” won the prestigious International Federation of Film Critics award at the recently concluded Toronto film festival.

Shetgaonkar was also critical of the state government for reducing the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to a carnival, where Goans were sidelined as mere spectators.

“Isn’t it ironic that it’s been five years that Goa is hosting IFFI and we do not even have five films (Goans) in our hands,” he said, adding that locals should be involved in the IFFI. “Common people need to connect with IFFI.”

Shetgaonkar also alleged that businessmen with vested interests are controlling important positions of patronage in Goa and sought an overhaul of state-run cultural agencies replacing the present lot at the helm.

“All true artists are overshadowed by them. Please bring in artists on important positions in these organisations,” Shetgaonkar said.

Chief Minister Kamat, while lauding Shetgaonkar’s efforts, said that film culture in the state is evolving for the better.