India, Feb. 14 -- The state government has allotted 10 acres of land in Mumbai's Film City to establish a centre of excellence for the film and entertainment industry, cultural affairs minister Ashish Shelar announced at the inauguration of the 23rd Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch on Thursday. The centre, named AVGC (Animation, Visual, Gaming, and Comic), will bring global experts to train professionals in advanced filmmaking technologies.

The festival, jointly organized by the Pune Film Foundation and the Maharashtra government, runs from February 13 to 20 and is themed'Celebrating the Showman'in honour of Raj Kapoor's birth centenary.

Veteran actress Shobha Khote was conferred with the PIFF Distingui...