NEW DELHI: Actor Jackie Shroff - the brand ambassador of the Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, short and animation films – could not have a better 59th birthday.

After attending an Animation Workshop and between eating pieces of cake, Jackie gushed: “You know, I spent my birthday today attending a class in animation filmmaking by Italian filmmaker Luca Rafaelli and India’s Dhwani Desai.”

Shroff was addressing a mid-fest press meet yesterday with Festival Director Mukesh Sharma who had surprised him with a birthday cake. The Press Information Bureau which put up the Media Centre also gave him a separate cake.

Speaking at the press meet, Sharma said that he was convinced that the festival could do with several changes but he would consider these after the Festival was over. “There is always scope for improvement,” he added.

Sharma said there were several impediments but he and his team overcame these one by one. He said with the Museum of Indian Cinema getting ready by the next MIFF, the Films Division complex could become a very good hub of cinema.

The simultaneous screenings of national films as part of the MIFF Zone in nineteen cities had been very encouraging. He would also explore starting the weekly FD Zone in Delhi.

He said in answer to a question that Prasar Bharati had assured him about considering the suggestion for a separate documentary

Shroff  said the Festival had been a learning for him. Animation was very close to his heart and he had seen several good films at the Festival. He wanted filmmakers to work towards oneness.

He also felt MIFF should be an annual Festival and not come every two years.