Journalists' associations on Saturday protested outside the inaugural venue of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here as local photojournalists and members of electronic media were allegedly not allowed to enter.

The Goa Union of Journalists (GUJ), All Goa Photojournalists Association and Electronic Media Association held a protest outside Dr Shama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium where the 52nd edition of the festival began. 'IFFI organizers have given exclusive rights of coverage of inaugural and closing functions to a private channel,' a senior office-bearer of GUJ claimed. Local media persons, especially photojournalists and electronic media were not allowed to cover the function, he alleged. The journalists lined up their cameras on the main road outside the venue as a mark of protest.