S Viswanath
If it is November then it must be IFFI aka International Film Festival of India – in Goa. The much awaited calendar cinema carnival brings contemporary cinemas of the world to the Abode of Beaches and Carnival City of Goa.IFFI is awaited with much enthusiasm and expectations given that cinephiles not only get to watch crème la crème of cinemas but get to enjoy the surf and sands of the sun kissed beaches of Goa as well.
More so, also bet their moolah at the floating casinos that dot the Mandovi riverfront while the heritage the historical Maquinez Palace in Panjim, which houses the Inox screens as also its own screening auditoria. The 1702 premises, which once functioned as a Goa Medical College before being converted into the most famous, one stop cultural hub for film screenings, festivals, and events.
With 55 successful editions under its belt, the 56th Edition of IFFI is all set to welcome the who’s who of the film world from across the globe promising a veritable fiesta of films for cine buffs and committed cinephiles to binge upon during the nine-day festivities.
From modest beginning in 1952, IFFI has been steadfastly grown in stature and scope curating spectacular films from all over the world under its ubiquitous umbrella.All with the singular purpose of providingpicture perfect platform for ambitious filmmakers, collegium of cineastes, and industry professionals, all of whom congregate to celebrate excellent cinemasculled and curated from across the world.
Held by National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) of India under the aegis of Government of India’s Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, in association with Government of Goa, with onerous objective of showcasing excellence in film art,IFFI has been in the forefront of fostering better understanding and greater appreciation of film cultures of different nations.
IFFI, through its assortment of culturally and aesthetically award winning and much accoladed films has been responsible in promoting friendship and cooperation among the peoples of the world through soft power of cinemaacting as the cultural bridge besides helping understand and assimilate the multifarious social and cultural ethos of nations through the modern day’s Seventh Art of cinema.
Living true to the festival’s celebrated motto of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”(The Whole World Is AFamily), IFFI, each year, assiduously has ensured it lives up to this stated vision and mission showcasing best of cinemas its eclectic team of curators and programmers meticulously put together for cinema aficionados who trek to Goa’s Capital Panjim as if on a pious Haj Pilgrimage.
This time too, the 56th Edition of IFFI, has left no stone unturned in ensuring some of the much feted and anticipated cinemas of the world have made it to the annual cinema jamboree. Not just that, the Panaji’s City other historical edifice – Kala Academy – true to its name – host to an ensemble and educative sessions of workshops, masterclasses, interviews et al., as part of the academic exercise as audiences and more importantly, film students, meet up, close and persons with the connoisseurs, season practitioners and auteurs of the cinematic art, across all possible streams the entertainment industry.
With films and entertainment being the high point of the film festival not just at IFFI, but the world over, can glamour and glitz be behind. Nay! Laden with awe-inspiring international premieres and with the who’s who of the industry in attendance it is only in the fitness of things that stars and marquee names in the film business land up to walk the Red Carpet as the paparazzi vie with one another for that exclusive bytes and show stopping signature snapshots that make it to their respective news outlets, TV channels and last, but not the least, the social media platforms and influencers podcasts that has sprung in recent years by the dozen.
Indeed, with those that sup, sip, sleep and serenade cinemas IFFI indeed turns out into an immersive experience, as it celebrates and toasts the finest and the fantabulous in world cinema.In short, the grandeur, the magic, and the moments that define cinema providing the stellar spectacle that every delegate that ascends the historical Maquinez Palace for the annual date with films turning Goa, and in particular Panaji or Panjim, and the entire stretch of the famed GMC Heritage Precinct, Old Dayanand Bandodkar Marg, aglow with illumination and hive of eateries humming and buzzing with business along its kerbside boulevard.
To come to 56th IFFI proper IFFI 2025 which seeks to embody innovation and inclusivity, fete filmmakers, new talent and creative excellence in cinema, will not only be doffing its honour hat to legendary and iconic multilingual actor Rajinikanth on his completing 50 glorious years in cinema but also be showcasing 240 plus films from 81 countries, with 13 world premieres, 5 international premieres and 44 Asian premieres.
Besides, IFFI will also see three its international competition segments featuring as many as 32 Films from five continents and boasts of nine specially curated sections such Docu-Montage, From the Festivals, Rising Stars, Mission Life, Experimental Films, Restored Classics, Macabre Dreams, UNICEF and Cinema of the World
This time IFFI’s Country Focus featured Japan with curated packages of Japanese cinema, institutional collaborations, and cultural showcases as also Special Film Packages from Partner Country Spain and Spotlight Australia.
IFFI, which will run from November 20 to 28, 2025, received a record 2,314 submissions from 127 countries, underscoring IFFI’s growing prominence on the global festival circuit. The film festival sees as many as 50 women directors having their films featured this year, underscoring the government’s commitment to promoting Nari Shakti in cinema.
In a marked departure from the past of a formal speech laden and cultural performances opening ceremony this time around IFFI will see a grand carnival parade featuring production houses, states, and cultural groups providing a vibrant spirit, kicking off the cinematic cultural extravaganza.
The Opening Film will be Brazilian auteur Gabriel Mascaro’s THE BLUE TRAIL, a sci-fi fantasy feature which follows a 75-year-old woman whose defiant voyage, through the Amazon becomes a quiet manifesto on freedom, dignity, and the right to dream. The film picked the Silver Bear – Grand Jury Prize at Berlin International Film Festival 2025.
IFFI’s Gala Premieres segment will present 18 titles, including 13 World Premieres, 2 Asia Premieres, 1 India Premiere, and 2 Special Showcase screenings. In all IFFI boasts of as many as 240 plus films from 81 countries, with 160 films in the International Section, including 13 world premieres, over 80 award-winning festival titles and 21 official Oscar-nominated films and over 55 films under “Cinema of the World” and curated selection of 133 international titles that have done festival rounds.
Besides the country focus JAPAN IFFI has added two new sections, Partner Country: Spain and Spotlight Country: Australia.In total, the festival will present 15 Competitive and Curated segments, including International Competition, Best Debut Feature Film of a Director, ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal, and special segments such as Macabre Dreams, Docu-Montage, Experimental Films, UNICEF, and Restored Classics.
IFFI’s Country Focus on Japan will a panoramic view of Japanese cinema today, celebrating the creative force of both rising filmmakers and established auteurs who continue to shape the nation’s evolving film language. Across six carefully curated titles – from intimate dramas of memory and identity to festival-winning psychological thrillers, queer narratives, youth sci-fi, and poetic, non-linear experiments.
The festival will celebrate centenaries and honour legendary filmmakers Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, P. Bhanumathi, Bhupen Hazarika, and Salil Chowdhury by showcasing their masterpiece.
The Women in Cinema sees 50 plus films directed by women; 50 plus works from debut filmmakers, reflecting festival’s focus on inclusivity and emerging voices (International Section). The Films and events will be hosted across five principal venues: INOX Panjim, Maquinez Palace, INOX Porvorim, Z-Square Samrat Ashok, and Ravindra Bhavan, Madgaon. Open-air screenings will be held at Miramar Beach, Ravindra Bhavan Fatorda, and Anjuna Beach.
Among the notable film line-up and award winners on the platter include prominent international award winners and festival favourites, including titles that triumphed at Cannes, Berlinale, Locarno and Venice, 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), The Message (Silver Bear, Jury Prize, Berlin), No Other Choice (People’s Choice Award, TIFF), Gloaming in Luomu (Best Film, Busan), Fiume o Morte! (Tiger Award, IFFR), among others.
Indeed, as Panaji and the historical Maquinez Palace turn Cinema Paradiso it is time for cinemas punctilious and picky patrons to find their nirvana as the choicest cinemas light up the screens and the streets resonate with all sounds and cymbals proclaiming Vive La Cinema!
S VISWANATH is a veteran film critic who officiates as JURY at several National & International Film Festivals. He deputises as CHIEF CINEMA CURATOR/PROGRAMMER & CREATIVE ADVISOR for Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes). He also curates & advises on the selection of shorts & documentaries for Bengaluru International Short Film Festival (BISFF). Mr Viswanath is the author of “RANDOM REFLECTIONS: A Kaleidoscopic Musings on Kannada Cinema”.
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