Mumbai: The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is set to dazzle audiences in Goa from November 20 to 28, 2025, celebrating global cinema with over 240 films from 81 countries, including 13 world premieres, 4 international premieres, and 46 Asian premieres. This year, IFFI received a record 2,314 submissions from 127 countries, reinforcing its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing film festivals.
A highlight of this year’s edition will be the felicitation of superstar Rajinikanth at the closing ceremony, honoring his five-decade-long cinematic journey that has defined Indian popular culture and inspired generations of artists and audiences alike.
“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,” said Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Information and Broadcasting.
The Opening Film of IFFI 2025 will be Brazilian auteur Gabriel Mascaro’s The Blue Trail — a sci-fi fantasy about a 75-year-old woman’s defiant voyage through the Amazon, which won the Silver Bear, Grand Jury Prize at Berlinale 2025.
Japan has been named the Country of Focus this year, strengthening Indo-Japanese cultural exchange through cinema.
IFFI 2025 will also celebrate centenaries and honor cinematic legends such as Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, P. Bhanumathi, Bhupen Hazarika, and Salil Chowdhury with special retrospectives of their timeless works.
The Indian Panorama will open with Rajkumar Periasamy’s Amaran (Tamil) in the feature section and Kakori in the non-feature category.
The Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT) initiative continues to grow, with 124 participants selected across 13 filmmaking crafts, including three new categories this year. The programme will feature a 48-hour filmmaking challenge in collaboration with ShortsTV.
An impressive lineup of industry stalwarts — including Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Anupam Kher, Christopher Charles Corbould, Aamir Khan, Ravi Varman, Kushboo Sundar, Bobby Deol, Suhasini Maniratnam, Pete Draper, and Sreekar Prasad — will conduct masterclasses and mentoring sessions during the festival.
IFFI will screen some of the year’s most celebrated global titles, including 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, Berlin), No Other Choice (People’s Choice Award, TIFF), Gloaming in Luomu (Best Film, Busan), and Fiume o Morte! (Tiger Award, IFFR).
With its diverse programming and global participation, IFFI 2025 continues to bridge art, culture, and technology, celebrating cinema as a universal language — and honoring legends like Rajinikanth, whose legacy continues to illuminate the world of storytelling.
