PANAJI: Goa is charged with the ‘Sound of Cinema’ as the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) prepares to begin its cinematic journey from November 20 to 28. Stepping into its 56th edition, the festival has been designed to elevate both exclusivity and inclusivity, promising nine days of contemporary brilliance, cultural depth and world-class storytelling.
The festival will open tomorrow with a spectacular Opening Parade that will transform Goa’s streets into a vibrant celebration of India’s cinematic heritage. Majestic tableaus from Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Goa will lead the procession, accompanied by creative displays from India’s leading studios and NFDC’s special 50-year tribute. “Bharat Ek Soor” will unite 100 folk artists in a rhythmic showcase of dance traditions from across India, while beloved characters like Chhota Bheem, Chutki, Motu Patlu and Bittu Bahanebaaz will bring nostalgia and delight to the crowds. The parade is set to unfold as a moving spectacle of colour, music and imagination.
IFFI 2025 will feature 15 Competitive and Curated segments, including the International Competition, Best Debut Feature Film of a Director, the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal, and categories such as Macabre Dreams, Docu-Montage, Experimental Films, UNICEF and Restored Classics.
Among the major highlights is Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT), which has selected 124 young creators from 799 entries across 13 filmmaking crafts, including 24 wildcard winners from the CIC Challenge at WAVES 2025. The 19th edition of the Waves Film Bazaar will host over 300 film projects across Screenwriters Lab, Market Screenings, Viewing Room and Co-Production Markets. It will feature 22 feature films, five documentaries, cash grants worth USD 20,000, 22 curated titles under WFBR, delegations from more than seven countries, incentives from over ten Indian states and a dedicated Tech Pavilion for VFX, CGI, animation and digital production.
IFFI 2025 also introduces the CinemAI Hackathon in collaboration with LTIMindtree and Waves Film Bazaar, focusing on AI-led innovation in filmmaking and advancing certification and anti-piracy frameworks. Additionally, IFFIesta, a four-day showcase of music, performance and creative arts, will be held from November 21 to 24 at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Auditorium, celebrating India’s dynamic creative economy.
This year’s edition will pay tribute to the centenaries of cinematic icons such as Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, P Bhanumathi, Bhupen Hazarika and Salil Chowdhury, with special screenings of Salil Chowdhury’s Musafir and Ritwik Ghatak’s Subarnarekha. Legendary actor Rajinikanth will be honoured at the closing ceremony for completing 50 years in cinema.
To ensure smooth execution of all events, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Sanjay Jaju, along with ministry officials, visited key IFFI venues in Panaji today for a final review.
With preparations now complete, Goa is all set to get ‘IFFI’fied once again for the next nine days.
