The countdown to the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) has begun, with the curtain raiser held in New Delhi on Friday. The festival, organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in collaboration with the Government of Goa, will be held from November 20 to 28, 2025, and will feature over 240 films from 81 countries, including 13 world premieres, 5 international premieres, and 44 Asian premieres.
Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan announced that IFFI 2025 will focus on innovation, inclusivity, and women’s representation in cinema, with over 50 women directors showcasing their films. He highlighted that the festival continues to support emerging talent and that the OTT Awards will return this year to honour excellence in web and streaming content.
Dr. Murugan said the government is committed to strengthening anti-piracy laws and simplifying film certification. He also mentioned the upcoming Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat certificate by the CBFC to encourage multilingual films and cultural unity.
IFFI 2025 Highlights and Tributes
Superstar Rajinikanth will be felicitated at the closing ceremony for completing 50 years in cinema. The festival will also pay tribute to legendary filmmakers Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, P. Bhanumathi, Bhupen Hazarika, and Salil Chowdhury, showcasing restored versions of their classics.
The Opening Film of IFFI 2025 will be The Blue Trail, a sci-fi fantasy by Brazilian auteur Gabriel Mascaro, which recently won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival.
This year’s festival will feature three international competitions with 32 films from five continents, alongside nine curated sections, including Docu-Montage, From the Festivals, Rising Stars, Macabre Dreams, Experimental Films, and Restored Classics.
Country Focus and Collaborations
Japan is the Country of Focus at IFFI 2025, with curated film packages highlighting Japanese creativity and storytelling. Partner country Spain and Spotlight Country Australia will also feature prominently through special showcases and cultural collaborations.
WAVES Film Bazaar, the 19th edition of India’s premier film market, will present over 300 film projects for co-production and distribution opportunities. Cash prizes worth $20,000 will be awarded to winning entries. A dedicated Tech Pavilion will highlight innovations in VFX, animation, and CGI, aligning with the festival’s theme of technological creativity.
Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT) will return with 124 young participants from across India, competing in a 48-hour filmmaking challenge.
Star-Studded Masterclasses and Panels
Film enthusiasts can attend 21 masterclasses and panel discussions featuring noted filmmakers and actors including Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Aamir Khan, Anupam Kher, Ravi Varman, Suhasini Maniratnam, Pete Draper, and Christopher Corbould OBE. Discussions will cover topics such as AI in filmmaking, editing, acting in the digital era, and sustainability in cinema.
Festival Director Shekhar Kapur said that India, being the world’s largest film-producing nation, celebrates its love for storytelling through IFFI. He called Film Bazaar a “movement empowering creators through technology” and urged filmmakers to see Artificial Intelligence as a creative collaborator.
Venues and Accessibility
Screenings and events will be held across five main venues in Goa — INOX Panjim, Maquinez Palace, INOX Porvorim, Z-Square Samrat Ashok, and Ravindra Bhavan, Madgaon — with open-air screenings at Miramar Beach, Fatorda, and Anjuna Beach. All venues will include audio descriptions, sign language interpretation, and multilingual dubbing, ensuring accessibility for all audiences.
The International Jury will be chaired by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, with members Graeme Clifford (Australia), Remi Adefarasin (UK), Katharina Schüttler (Germany), and Chandran Rutnam (Sri Lanka).
Global Cinema Showcase
IFFI 2025 will bring to Indian audiences award-winning films from major festivals including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Locarno, and Toronto, such as It Was Just an Accident (Palme d’Or, Cannes), Father Mother Sister Brother (Golden Lion, Venice), Dreams (Sex Love) (Golden Bear, Berlin), and Sirât (Grand Jury Prize, Cannes).
The Mid-Fest Film, Sirât by Spanish filmmaker Óliver Laxe, follows a father’s journey through the Moroccan desert in search of his daughter — a poetic exploration of faith, loss, and redemption.