PANAJI (GOA): The 41st International Film Festival of India began here on Monday. Veteran Bollywood director Yash Chopra along with Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and actor Ajay Devgan were the chief guests at the inaugural ceremony.

The film extravaganza was kicked off with a screening of the hit British film "West is West" and will go on to showcase 300 films from 61 countries. This year at films from Canada, US and other European countries are vying for the top awards unlike earlier when the competition section was open only to films from Asia, Africa and Latin America.