Panaji, Nov 4 (IANS) Green Oscar winner Mike Pandey and documentary filmmaker Shaji Karun have been nominated as the heads of jury for the environment and documentary sections of the 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), an official said Wednesday.

Both categories, namely 'Vasundhara' which is the award for the best green documentary and the documentary competition, are part of the IFFI's initiative which promotes short films.

The three other jury members in the documentary section are Michael Orth (Germany), Juhani Alanen (Finland) and Phillip Chech (Singapore).

Luchia Rikaki (Greece) and Marina Ana Enich (Germany) will join Pandey as jury members who will judge environment-related films.

Academy award winner Sir Ben Kingsley has already been selected as the guest of honour at the IFFI this year, which will start Nov 23.

IFFI is the most important state sponsored film festival in the country and the 40th edition is expected to see filmmakers from over 50 countries participating.