PTI
New Delhi
The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will be held in Goa from November 20 to 28 and feature over 240 films from 81 countries, including 13 world premieres, five international premieres and 44 Asian premieres, officials said on Friday.
Japan has been named the ‘Country of Focus’ for 2025 and six curated titles, representing the nation’s evolving cinematic language, will be screened at the festival.
Spain will serve as the ‘Partner Country’, while Australia will be the ‘Spotlight Country’.
The festival will host three international competitions featuring 32 films from five continents, along with top award-winning titles from world’s major film festivals such as South Korean drama ‘No Other Choice’, Cannes Palme d’Or winner ‘It Was Just An Accident’, ‘Father Mother Sister Brother’, the Golden Lion winner at Venice, ‘The Message’, which won the Silver Bear at Berlin festival and ‘Sentimental Value’ by acclaimed filmmaker Joachim Trier.
This year’s festival received a record 2,314 submissions from 127 countries, including 1098 entries from 18 different languages from India.
“IFFI 2025 marks a significant chapter as it embraces inclusivity and diversity, showcasing voices from all corners of the world while spotlighting Indian regional cinema’s rich tapestry. By introducing programmes focused on emerging filmmakers and digital storytelling, IFFI is nurturing platforms that champion new talent and celebrate the evolution of filmmaking in the digital age,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a statement.
I&B secretary Sanjay Jaju said the opening ceremony on 20th of this month will be marked by a carnival and parade, celebrating the cinematic journey of the country.
Festival director Shekhar Kapur said the previous edition received a footfall of 20,000 participants.
The opening film of IFFI 2025 is Brazilian auteur Gabriel Mascaro’s ‘The Blue Trail’, a sci-fi and fantasy feature following a 75-year-old woman’s defiant voyage through the Amazon. The film, a quiet manifesto on freedom and dignity, won the Silver Bear – Grand Jury Prize at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival.
The Gala Premieres segment will feature 18 titles, including 13 world premieres, two Asia premieres, one India premiere, and two special showcase screenings.
Over 160 films will screen in the International Section, including 13 world premieres and 80 award-winning festival titles, as well as 21 Oscar-nominated films. The jury for international competition is headed by filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.
The festival’s nine curated sections include 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 will feature 25 feature films, 20 non-feature films and 5 debut features.
IFFI 2025 will celebrate centenaries of cinematic legends Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, P Bhanumathi, Bhupen Hazarika and Salil Chowdhury by showcasing restored classics of their work. Besides, the film will also mark 50 years of Rajinikanth and 125 years of V Shantaram through a special screening of the director’s acclaimed 1946 movie “Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani”.
