IFFI to showcase 159 international, 76 Indian films; 'Fatherland' is opening film

Acclaimed Polish filmmaker Pawel Pawlikowski's 'Fatherland' will open the 57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which will showcase 159 international films from 86 countries and 76 Indian films during its nine-day run in Goa from November 20 to 28.

The festival, themed 'Stories Without Borders', will conclude with Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen's 'We Are All Strangers', festival director and filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker announced at a press conference on Friday.

Pawlikowski, known for award-winning films such as 'Ida' and 'Cold War', completes his trilogy of historical stories with 'Fatherland', which earned him the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.

The festival received 1,400 film submissions from 137 countries and will feature nine world premieres, two international premieres, 24 Asia premieres, 116 India premieres and 14 gala premieres.

𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗮 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀

The international competition will feature 15 films, while seven titles will compete in the Best Debut Feature Film category and 10 films will vie for the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal.

The international jury will be chaired by filmmaker Aanand L Rai and include Bogdan Muresanu, María Alejandra Rojas, Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke and Sol Berruezo Pichon-Rivière.

The Golden Peacock for Best Film carries a cash prize of Rs 51 lakh, while the Silver Peacock for Best Director comes with Rs 20 lakh.

The Best Actor (Male) and Best Actor (Female) awards carry Rs 15 lakh each, while the Special Jury Award comes with Rs 20 lakh. The Best Debut Feature Film Director will receive Rs 15 lakh.

𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲-𝘂𝗽

The Indian Panorama section will showcase 76 films across 18 languages, with 'Dhurandhar' opening the feature film segment and the Ladakhi-language film 'Becoming' opening the non-feature section.

The selection includes 25 feature films and 20 non-feature films chosen from more than 700 entries.

Organisers said the section received 404 feature film submissions and 358 non-feature film entries, while the Best Web Series (OTT) category attracted 46 eligible submissions.

The festival will also feature a special focus on BRICS cinema, with India's 'Ramayana' opening the segment.

Films from all 11 BRICS member countries, along with contributions from partner countries, will be screened.

Spain has been designated the Country of Honour and will present four films, including Pedro Almodovar's 'Bitter Christmas', 'The Bad Son', 'Trinidad' and 'Persegiuiendo a Michael'.

Russia, the Partner Country, will showcase 'Four', 'New Home', 'Bo Bo' and 'Sidney Lumet's Birthday'.

Two new segments, Animation and 'Films About Films', have been introduced this year, featuring five films each. The latter will explore the art and craft of filmmaking.

𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀

The festival will feature works by 52 women filmmakers and 62 debut filmmakers.

Competitive sections will include films by 10 women directors and 12 debut filmmakers, reflecting the festival's focus on emerging voices and diverse storytelling.

The sixth edition of Creative Minds of Tomorrow will bring together 100 participants across 13 filmmaking crafts.

The programme will feature masterclasses, workshops, a 48-hour filmmaking challenge and a talent camp aimed at nurturing emerging talent.

The WAVES Film Bazaar will bring together filmmakers, producers, buyers, distributors and other industry stakeholders to facilitate collaborations and co-production opportunities.

It will host 150 invited guests, including buyers and production houses, and feature the Screenwriters' Lab, Co-production Market, Viewing Room and Work-in-Progress Lab.

Netflix, the Knowledge Series partner at WAVES Film Bazaar, will support industry capacity-building and highlight its collaboration with the government to strengthen India's visual effects capabilities.

Its programme will include the gala premiere of 'Pushpak Viman', an international screening of 'Ray Gunn' and pitching sessions for emerging filmmakers.

𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀

IFFI will organise 14 masterclasses, workshops, panel discussions and interactive sessions at Kala Academy from November 21 to 27.

The sessions will cover documentary filmmaking, women shaping world cinema, storytelling, casting, subtitling and emerging cinematic practices.

The festival will also pay tribute to Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda on his birth centenary, screening 'Ashes and Diamonds', 'After Image', 'Man of Marble', 'Kanal' and 'The Promised Land'.

Centenary celebrations will also honour Indian filmmakers Shakti Samanta and Raj Khosla, actors Uttam Kumar, Suryakant Mandhare, Prem Nazir and Raj Kumar, and music composers O P Nayyar and Ravi.

A special screening of Gowariker's 'Lagaan' will mark the film's 25th anniversary.

Screenings will take place across 13 indoor screens at four locations in Goa, including Panaji, Porvorim, Margao and Ponda, with a combined seating capacity exceeding 4,000.

𝗖𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀

Explaining the festival's theme, Gowariker said cinema could bridge cultural and linguistic differences by allowing audiences to connect with unfamiliar experiences.

"We are living in a time when we are more connected than ever, and yet it has also become very easy to stay within our own circles, our own language, our own screens and our own points of view," he said.

He noted that borders were not merely geographical but could also exist in people's habits and perspectives.

According to the 'Swades' director, cinema succeeds when audiences connect emotionally with characters from countries whose languages they do not understand.

"The distance shrinks. To me, that is what cinema does best, and that is the thought behind our theme, 'Stories Without Borders'," Gowariker said.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said IFFI, Asia's oldest film festival, had evolved into a significant international platform and an important part of the state's cultural identity.

"Every November, Goa opens its door as a vibrant home for storytellers from around the world. Great stories bring the world together and once again, Goa is ready to roll out the red carpet for the global cinema," Sawant said.

He added that hosting the festival was a matter of pride for Goa and provided an opportunity to welcome the global film fraternity while showcasing the state's cultural appeal.