The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is set to captivate audiences in Goa from November 20-28, serving as a significant global platform for cinematic art. This edition has garnered an unprecedented 2,314 submissions from 127 countries, underscoring its expansive reach and influence in the international film circuit.

The festival's comprehensive program boasts screenings of over 240 films from 81 countries, including a substantial lineup of 160 international titles. This selection features more than 80 award-winning films and 21 official Oscar-nominated works. Audiences can look forward to 13 world premieres, four international premieres, and 46 Asian premieres across various competitive and curated segments.

Kicking off the festival is Gabriel Mascaro’s acclaimed “The Blue Trail” from Brazil, a recipient of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2025 Berlinale. This poignant feature follows a 75-year-old woman's transformative journey through the Amazon, presented as a powerful manifesto on freedom and dignity. The festival will conclude with Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke’s “A Useful Ghost,” which earned the Cannes Critics’ Week Grand Prize.

IFFI 2025 places a special emphasis on various regions, with Japan taking center stage as the country focus, presenting six curated titles ranging from intimate dramas to psychological thrillers and experimental works by both rising and established filmmakers. Spain is featured as the partner country, while Australia is highlighted in the spotlight section. The festival slate includes other major award-winning titles such as “It Was Just An Accident” (Palme d’Or, Cannes), “Father Mother Sister Brother” (Golden Lion, Venice), “Dreams (sex Love)” (Golden Bear, Berlin), “Sirât” (Grand Jury Prize, Cannes) and “The Message” (Silver Bear, Jury Prize, Berlin).

A core element of this year’s festival is its commitment to nurturing new talent, evident in the competitive section for the Best Debut Feature Film of a Director Award. This category will showcase seven first-time filmmakers from around the globe – five international and two Indian productions. The winning director will be awarded the prestigious Silver Peacock trophy, INR10 lakh ($11,270), and a certificate of commendation. The esteemed jury for this section is led by Indian director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, joined by Australian editor-director Graeme Clifford, German actor Katharina Schüttler, Sri Lankan filmmaker Chandran Rutnam, and English cinematographer Remi Adefarasin.

The international debut entries include Tribeni Rai’s Nepali-language “Shape of Momo,” which comes with significant festival acclaim, having been showcased at HAF Goes to Cannes and Film Bazaar, and competed at Busan and San Sebastián. The Sikkim-set narrative explores a woman named Bishnu challenging patriarchal traditions within her female-dominated household. Spain’s Gemma Blasco makes her feature debut with “Fury,” which premiered at SXSW and San Sebastián, examining the aftermath of sexual violence through an actor performing “Medea.” Christina Tournatzés’ German-language debut “Karla,” a Munich award-winner, dramatizes a young girl’s legal action against her father’s abuse in 1962. Estonia’s Tõnis Pill’s “Fränk,” a Fipresci jury prize recipient at SCHLINGEL fest, follows a 13-year-old adapting after domestic violence. Iranian helmer Hesam Farahmand’s “My Daughter’s Hair” tackles class tension when a father sells his child’s hair for a laptop. Finally, Mexico’s Ernesto Martínez Bucio, who captured Berlin’s new Perspectives competition, presents “The Devil Smokes,” depicting five children projecting their fears through their grandmother’s mental illness.

The Indian Panorama section will feature 25 feature films, 20 non-feature films, and five debut features. Rajkumar Periyasamy’s Tamil-language “Amaran” will open the feature section, while “Kakori” will launch the non-feature section. Among the Indian debut films is Shivraj Waichal’s Marathi feature “Ata Thambaycha Naay!” (Now, there’s no stopping!), a narrative based on true events involving Mumbai sanitation workers who pursued education later in life with encouragement from a municipal officer.

Further emphasizing its commitment to emerging voices, the festival will screen over 50 films directed by women and more than 50 works from debut filmmakers across the international section. New awards this year include the Best Debut Director of Indian Feature Film, carrying a cash prize of INR500,000 ($6,000), and the Best Web Series award, offering INR1 million ($12,000) to be shared among creators and producers from 30 submissions. Other competitive and curated segments include the International Competition, ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal, Macabre Dreams, Docu-Montage, Experimental Films, UNICEF, and Restored Classics.

IFFI 2025 will also pay tribute to the centenaries of legendary Indian filmmakers such as Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, P. Bhanumathi, Bhupen Hazarika, and Salil Chowdhury, with special screenings of their masterworks. A series of 21 masterclasses and panels will feature prominent industry figures including Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Anupam Kher, Christopher Charles Corbould, Bobby Deol, Aamir Khan, Ravi Varman, Kushboo Sundar, Suhasini Maniratnam, Pete Draper, and Sreekar Prasad, covering topics like editing, acting in the digital era, sustainability, AI, and VFX technologies.

Running concurrently is the 19th edition of the Waves Film Bazaar, which will present over 300 film projects through its Screenwriters Lab, Market Screenings, Viewing Room Library, and Co-Production Market. The Co-Production Market will see 22 feature films and five documentaries vying for $20,000 in cash grants. The Waves Film Bazaar Recommends section highlights 22 films representing 14 languages and four countries. Additionally, the Creative Minds of Tomorrow program, which received 799 entries, has selected 124 participants across 13 filmmaking crafts, including three new disciplines, featuring a 48-hour filmmaking challenge in collaboration with ShortsTV.

The festival’s events and screenings will be hosted across five principal venues in Goa: Inox Panjim, Maquinez Palace, Inox Porvorim, Z-Square Samrat Ashok, and Ravindra Bhavan Madgaon. Open-air screenings will add to the festive atmosphere at Miramar Beach, Ravindra Bhavan Fatorda, and Anjuna Beach. All venues are equipped with comprehensive accessibility measures, including audio descriptions, sign language interpretation, and multilingual dubbing, ensuring an inclusive experience for all attendees.

The International Film Festival of India, founded in 1952, is jointly organized by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Government of Goa. The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), established in 1975, manages the Waves Film Bazaar, fostering connections between Indian creators and global markets. Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting, stated that “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.” L. Murugan, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, added that “This edition represents India’s unwavering commitment to cinema as a universal language that connects cultures and inspires creativity.”