MUMBAI: UTV Spotboy’s Welcome to Sajjanpur, which is directed by Shyam Benegal, will be competing at the upcoming Taormina Film Festival.

Taormina Film Festival, scheduled to be held from 13-20 June in Sicily, will feature Welcome to Sajjanpur in the competition section Beyond the Mediterranean against eight other films in the Audience Award category for the Best Film.

Benegal said, "Indian movies have played an extremely pivotal role in offering India, the much required recognition in the entertainment sphere abroad. The Taormina Film Festival will not only put forth Welcome to Sajjanpur on the global map, but open further avenues for film makers to display their work of art, internationally."

"We are extremely thrilled that our movie Welcome to Sajjanpur will be competing at this highly esteemed film festival, with some of the finest movies created in today’s times. The funny yet realistic way in which Mr Benegal looked at the impact of illiteracy got a fantastic response in India and should cut across audiences of all continents. We look forward to a good outcome," added UTV Spotboy chief creative officer Vikas Bahl.

Welcome to Sajjanpur stars Shreyas Talpade, Ravi Kishan, Divya Datta and Amrita Rao.