Goa is preparing to host the 56th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) from November 20 to 28, marking nine days of film screenings, cultural programmes and industry events. The festival will begin tomorrow with a Grand Opening Parade that will showcase tableaus from Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Goa, along with displays from leading film studios and a 50-year tribute by NFDC. Folk artists from across the country will also participate in the procession.
IFFI 2025 has been planned as a comprehensive platform for cinema, creativity and technology. This year’s edition will feature 15 competitive and curated segments, including International Competition, Best Debut Feature Film of a Director and the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal. Special segments will showcase horror, documentaries, experimental films, UNICEF-themed cinema and restored classics.
The festival will host multiple knowledge and skill-building programmes such as Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT), Waves Film Bazaar (19th edition), the Knowledge Series, CinemAI Hackathon and IFFIesta – a cultural showcase with live performances and interactive sessions.
Under the Creative Minds of Tomorrow initiative, 124 young creators have been selected from 799 entries across 13 filmmaking disciplines, including 24 wildcard entries from the CIC Challenge of WAVES 2025. The 19th edition of the Waves Film Bazaar will feature more than 300 film projects across labs and markets, 22 feature films and five documentaries in the Co-Production Market and cash grants worth USD 20,000. International delegations from over seven countries and film incentive showcases from more than 10 Indian states are expected to participate.
A dedicated Tech Pavilion will highlight advancements in VFX, CGI, animation and digital production. The CinemAI Hackathon, organised with LTIMindtree and Waves Film Bazaar, will focus on applications of artificial intelligence in film production, certification and anti-piracy frameworks.
IFFIesta, a four-day cultural programme, will be held from November 21 to 24 at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Auditorium between 6 PM and 8 PM. The festival will also mark centenary tributes to Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, P. Bhanumathi, Bhupen Hazarika and Salil Chowdhury. Screenings of Salil Chowdhury’s Musafir and Ritwik Ghatak’s Subarnarekha are scheduled. At the closing ceremony, veteran actor Rajinikanth will be honoured for completing 50 years in cinema.
To oversee final preparations, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Sanjay Jaju, reviewed IFFI venues in Panaji today along with senior officials.
Established in 1952, IFFI is South Asia’s oldest and largest film festival, jointly organised by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Entertainment Society of Goa. The festival continues to serve as a global platform for film screenings, masterclasses, collaborations and cultural exchange.