New Delhi, Nov 7 (PTI) The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is set to unfold in Goa from November 20 to 28, showcasing over 240 films from an impressive lineup of 81 countries. Highlights include 13 world premieres, five international premieres, and 44 Asian premieres. Japan has been earmarked as the 'Country of Focus' for 2025, bringing six uniquely curated titles that exhibit its evolving cinematic narrative to the festival in Panaji, Goa. Spain will be the 'Partner Country', while Australia takes the spotlight as the 'Spotlight Country'.
The festival boasts three international competitions with 32 films from five continents, along with acclaimed titles from major film festivals worldwide such as South Korean drama "No Other Choice", Cannes Palme d'Or laureate "It Was Just An Accident", as well as "Father Mother Sister Brother", the Golden Lion winner from Venice, "The Message" with its Silver Bear from Berlin, and "Sentimental Value" by renowned filmmaker Joachim Trier.
This year marks a record with 2,314 submissions pouring in from 127 countries, and notably, include 1,098 entries in 18 Indian languages.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting head Ashwini Vaishnaw stated, “IFFI 2025 is an inclusive and diverse celebration, spotlighting voices from around the globe and the richness of Indian regional cinema. The festival nurtures new talent with a focus on emerging filmmakers and digital storytelling, celebrating the filmmaking evolution in the digital age.”
I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju highlighted that the opening ceremony on November 20 will feature a parade and carnival, accentuating India’s cinematic journey. “This parade will infuse the festival with carnival spirit, drawing production houses and multiple states together. Cultural troops will arrive from across India, joining in the celebration with a singular message: cinema, cinema, cinema,” he enthused.
Shekhar Kapur, festival director, noted a previous edition attendance of 20,000, with aspirations of increasing this to one lakh within four years.
Opening this year will be Brazilian auteur Gabriel Mascaro's "The Blue Trail", a compelling sci-fi and fantasy that chronicles a 75-year-old woman’s intrepid voyage through the Amazon, offering profound reflections on freedom and dignity. The film recently clinched the Silver Bear – Grand Jury Prize at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival. Meanwhile, the Gala Premieres segment will feature a robust selection of 18 titles, with 13 of these being world premieres, alongside two Asia premieres, an India premiere, and two special showcase screenings.
Over 160 films will grace the International Section, complete with 13 world premieres and 80 award-winning festival features as well as 21 Oscar-nominated films. Esteemed filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra leads the jury for international competition.
The festival’s programming includes nine curated sections such as Docu-Montage, From the Festivals, Rising Stars, Mission Life, Experimental Films, Restored Classics, Macabre Dreams, UNICEF, and Cinema of the World. The Indian Panorama section proudly presents 25 feature films, 20 non-feature films, and 5 debut features.
Tamil film "Amaran", directed by Rajkumar Periyasamy and starring Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi, will initiate the feature category, while "Kakori" will head the non-feature section. The feature film jury is steered by actor Raja Bundela, with Dharam Gulati directing the jury for the non-feature segment.
The event will host a wide range of masterclasses and panel discussions, with 21 sessions spanning 10 formats at the Kala Academy. Prominent figures such as Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Anupam Kher, Aamir Khan, Bobby Deol, Ravi Varman, Kushboo Sundar, Suhasini Maniratnam, Christopher Charles Corbould, Pete Draper, and Sreekar Prasad will share their insights.
Topics will delve into editing, acting in the digital age, theatre’s intersection with sustainability, and AI and VFX technologies. Furthermore, panels will examine cinema’s potential in peace promotion and the evolving challenges faced by modern filmmakers. “In Conversation” sessions will offer audiences interactions with esteemed artists and technicians.
Also, IFFI 2025 commemorates the centenaries of cinematic legends such as Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, P Bhanumathi, Bhupen Hazarika, and Salil Chowdhury, presenting restored classics from their bodies of work.
In addition, the festival will honor 50 years of Rajinikanth’s career and the 125th anniversary of V Shantaram, featuring a special screening of Shantaram's celebrated 1946 film, "Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani".
The festival will also launch an AI Film Festival and Cinema AI Hackathon, presenting a range of AI-generated films across varied genres including fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental. A challenging 48-hour Cinema AI Hackathon will task developers and storytellers with creating innovative AI-driven cinematic tools.
Meanwhile, the 19th edition of the Waves Film Bazaar will present an expansive suite with over 300 film projects across various segments such as the Screenwriters Lab, Market Screenings, Viewing Room Library, and Co-Production Market. Specifically, the co-production market is set to highlight 22 feature films and five documentaries, offering a total prize pool of USD 20,000 for three triumphant projects.
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