56th International Film Festival of IndiaOfficial poster |
| Opening film | The Blue Trail by Gabriel Mascaro |
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| Closing film | A Useful Ghost |
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| Location | Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium at Panaji, Goa, India |
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| Founded | 1952 |
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| Awards | |
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| Hosted by | |
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| No. of films | 240 |
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| Festival date | Opening: 20 November 2025 (2025-11-20)
Closing: 28 November 2025 (2025-11-28) |
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| Website | iffigoa.org |
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The 56th International Film Festival of India took place from 20 to 28 November 2025 at Panaji, Goa.[1] In place of its customary indoor stadium launch, the opening ceremony was presented this year as a carnival parade. The festival opened with the screening of 2025 dystopian drama film The Blue Trail by Gabriel Mascaro.[2] Indian film director and screenwriter Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra served as the chairperson of the International Jury. The festival presented more than 240 films from 81 countries, including 13 world premieres, 5 international premieres and 44 Asian premieres.[3]
Japan was designated as the 'Country of Focus' at the festival, and it will present six curated titles. In addition Spain will be the Partner Country, with Australia as the Spotlight Country.[4] The festival also celebrated centenaries and honoured cinematic legends such as Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, P. Bhanumathi, Bhupen Hazarika, and Salil Chowdhury with special retrospectives of their works.
The closing ceremony on 28 November featured a felicitation of actor Rajinikanth, recognizing his contributions to cinema over the past five decades. The festival concluded with the announcement of various awards. Golden Peacock for the best feature film was won by the Vietnamese transgender sex romance film Skin of Youth by Ash Mayfair.[5] A Useful Ghost, a Thai supernatural black comedy-drama by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke was screened as the closing film of the festival.[6]
Overview
The 56th edition of the festival showcased 15 curated and competitive sections, including International Competition, Best Debut Feature Film, and the ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal. Special categories included featured categories viz: Macabre Dreams, Docu-Montage, Experimental cinema, UNICEF-supported films, and Restored classics. The Gala Premieres section included 18 films, featuring 13 world premieres and two Asia premieres. The Indian Panorama presented 25 feature films, 20 non-feature films, and five debut features. More than 50 films by women directors and over 50 debut works were shown in the international lineup. The festival also hosted 21 masterclasses.[7]
Opening and closing ceremonies
Opening ceremony
For the first time in its history, the festival, departing from the tradition of hosting opening ceremony in enclosed venue. commenced with a carnival 26-float parade on 20 November 2025. It featured floats from production houses, state representatives, cultural groups, cinematic heritage and the world of animation. The parade proceeded through the lanes and alleyways of Panaji, Goa, reminiscent of its carnival. Indian actor, film producer Nandamuri Balakrishna was felicitated at the parade for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.[8]
Closing ceremony
The festival ended with a vibrant display of India’s cultural diversity, featuring folk traditions, classical dances from different regions, and performances by divyang artists. It concluded with the announcement of the awards and the screening of the Thai film A Useful Ghost, directed by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke.[9]
Jury
International Jury
ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal jury
- Ahmed Bedjaoui, artistic director of the International Film Festival of Algiers, chairperson
- Xueyan Hun, Platform for Creativity and Innovation, CICT-ICFT youth branch
- Serge Michel, vice president of UNICA;
- Tobias Biancone, former director-general of the International Theatre Institute
- Georges Dupont, director-general of ICFT and former senior international civil servant at UNESCO
Feature film jury
- Raja Bundela, Indian actor, producer, politician and civil activist, chairperson
- Malay Ray, Cinematographer
- Subhash Sehgal, film editor
- Jadumani Dutta, filmmaker
- Krishna Hebbal, actor
- Kamlesh K Mishra, filmmaker
- Arun Bakshi, actor, singer
- Asim Sinha, actor
- Ashok Sharan, producer
- Sukumar Jatania, cinematographer
- B S Basavaraju, cinematographer
Non-feature film jury
- Dharam Gulati, Cinematographer, chairperson
- Anjali Panjabi, Filmmaker & Producer
- Bobby Sarma Baruah, Filmmaker
- Rekha Gupta, Film Critic and Film Curator
- Ashok Cashyap, Film Producer, Filmmaker and Cinematographer
- A. Karthik Raaja, Cinematographer
- Jyotsana Garg, Filmmaker
Web Series jury
Screening venues
The following venues will host the festival screenings.
- Inox Panjim,
- Maquinez Palace
- Inox Porvorim
- Z-Square Samrat Ashok
- Ravindra Bhavan Madgaon
- Open-air screenings
Official selection
Opening midfest and closing films
The opening and closing films of the festival are:[10]
| English title
|
Original title
|
Director(s)
|
Production countrie(s)
|
| Opening film
|
| The Blue Trail
|
O Último Azul
|
Gabriel Mascaro
|
Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Netherlands
|
| Midfest film
|
| Sirāt |
Oliver Laxe |
Spain, France
|
| Closing film
|
| A Useful Ghost |
ผีใช้ได้ค่ะ |
Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke |
Thailand, France, Singapore, Germany
|
International competition
15 feature films will compete for the Golden Peacock award.[11]
| English title
|
Original title
|
Director(s)
|
Production countrie(s)
|
| Amaran
|
Tamil
|
Rajkumar Periasamy
|
Raaj Kamal Films International
|
| Amrum |
Fatih Akin |
Germany
|
| C'est Si Bon! |
Moi qui t'aimais
|
Diane Kurys
|
France
|
| Gondhal
|
गोंधळ
|
Santosh Davakhar
|
India
|
| Little Trouble Girls
|
Kaj ti je deklica
|
Urška Djukić
|
Slovenia, Italy, Croatia, Serbia
|
| Mosquitoes
|
Le Bambine
|
Valentina Bertani and Nicole Bertani
|
Italy, Switzerland, France
|
| Mother's Baby
|
Johanna Moder
|
Austria, Switzerland, Germany
|
| My Father's Shadow |
Akinola Davies Jr. |
United Kingdom, Ireland, Nigeria
|
| A Poet
|
Un Poeta
|
Simón Mesa Soto
|
Colombia, Germany, Sweden
|
| Renoir
|
ルノワール |
Chie Hayakawa |
Japan, Australia, France, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia
|
| Sarkeet
|
Thamar KV
|
India
|
| Sham
|
Takashi Miike
|
Japan
|
| Skin of Youth
|
Ồn Ào Tuổi Trẻ
|
Ash Mayfair
|
Vietnam, Singapore, Japan
|
| Songs of Adam
|
Oday Rasheed
|
Iraq
|
| The Visual Feminist Manifesto
|
Farida Baqi
|
Syria, Lebanon, Germany
|
Best Debut Feature Film of a Director
This section will feature seven first-time filmmakers from the world of cinema.[12][13]
| English title
|
Original title
|
Director(s)
|
Production countrie(s)
|
| Ata Thambaycha Naay!
|
आता थांबायचं नाय!
|
Shivraj Waichal
|
India
|
| The Devil Smokes |
El diablo fuma (y guarda las cabezas de los cerillos quemados en la misma caja)
|
Ernesto Martínez Bucio
|
Mexico
|
| Fury
|
La furia
|
Gemma Blasco
|
Spain
|
| Fränk
|
Tõnis Pill
|
Estonia
|
| Karla
|
Christina Tournatzés
|
Germany
|
| My Daughter’s Hair
|
رها
|
Hesam Farahmand
|
Iran
|
| Shape of Momo
|
Tribeny Rai
|
India
|
ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal
10 films are competing for the IFFI ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal:[14]
From The Festivals - 2025
| English title
|
Original title
|
Director(s)
|
Production countrie(s)
|
| Black Rabbit, White Rabbit
|
Shahram Mokri
|
Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates
|
| The Blue Trail
|
O Último Azul
|
Gabriel Mascaro
|
Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Netherlands
|
| Dreams (Sex Love)
|
Drømmer
|
Dag Johan Haugerud
|
Norway
|
| Father Mother Sister Brother
|
Jim Jarmusch
|
United States, Ireland, France
|
| Fiume o morte!
|
Rijeka
|
Igor Bezinović
|
Croatia, Italy, Slovenia
|
| Gloaming in Luomu
|
罗目的黄昏
|
Zhang Lü
|
China
|
| It Was Just an Accident |
یک تصادف ساده |
Jafar Panahi |
Iran, France, Luxembourg
|
| Katanga: The Dance of the Scorpions
|
Katanga - La danse des scorpions
|
Dani Kouyaté
|
Burkina Faso
|
| Kontinental '25
|
Radu Jude
|
Romania, Brazil, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Luxembourg
|
| Magellan
|
Magalhães
|
Lav Diaz
|
Portugal, Spain, Philippines, France
|
| The Mastermind |
Kelly Reichardt |
United States, United Kingdom
|
| The Message
|
El mensaje
|
Iván Fund
|
Argentina, Spain
|
| Miroirs No. 3
|
Christian Petzold
|
Germany
|
| No Other Choice |
어쩔수가없다 |
Park Chan-wook |
South Korea
|
| Sentimental Value |
Affeksjonsverdi |
Joachim Trier |
Norway, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, United Kingdom
|
| Sirāt |
Oliver Laxe |
Spain, France
|
| Sound of Falling
|
In die Sonne schauen |
Mascha Schilinski |
Germany
|
| White Snail
|
Elsa Kremser and Levin Peter
|
Austria, Germany
|
| Woman and Child
|
زن و بچه |
Saeed Roustayi |
Iran, France, Germany
|
Indian Panorama
In Indian Panorama feature and non-feature films of cinematic, thematic, and aesthetic excellence are selected for the promotion of film art through the non-profit screening of these films under different categories.[15][16]
Feature films
| Title of the Film
|
Language
|
Director(s)
|
Producer(s)
|
| Amaran (Opening film)
|
Tamil
|
Rajkumar Periasamy
|
Raaj Kamal Films International
|
| Gondhal
|
गोंधळ
|
Santosh Davakhar
|
India
|
| Sarkeet
|
Malayalam
|
Thamar KV
|
Ajith Vinayaka Films
|
| Vimukt
|
Braj-language
|
Jitank Singh Gurjar
|
Canvas Creation
|
| The Bengal Files
|
Hindi
|
Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri
|
Abhishek Agarwal Arts
|
| Oitharei
|
Manipuri
|
Dinesh Naorem
|
Gibanlata Thokchom
|
| Maliput Melodies
|
Odia
|
Vishal Patnaik
|
Kaustav Dreamworks Studios
|
Mainstream Cinema Section
Non-feature Films
Best Debut Director
| English title
|
Original title
|
Director(s)
|
Production countrie(s)
|
| A.R.M
|
Jithin Lal
|
India
|
| Committee Kurrollu
|
Yadhu Vamsee
|
India
|
| Shape of Momo
|
Tribeny Rai
|
India
|
| Binodiini
|
Binodiini: Ekti Natir Upakhyan
|
Ram Kamal Mukherjee
|
India
|
Best Web Series OTT
Docu–Montage
This section comprises documentaries & docu-drama.
| English title
|
Original title
|
Director(s)
|
Production countrie(s)
|
| And There Was Evening And There Was Morning. The First Day
|
Youhanna Nagy
|
Egypt
|
| Below the Clouds
|
Sotto le nuvole
|
Gianfranco Rosi
|
Italy
|
| Croma
|
Manuel Abramovich
|
Argentina, Germany, Austria
|
| Forensics
|
Federico Atehortúa Arteaga
|
Columbia
|
| Gods of Stone
|
Iván Castiñeiras Gallego
|
Spain, France, Portugal
|
| Ku Handza
|
André Guiomar
|
Portugal
|
| Lullaby for the Mountains
|
Hayk Matevosyan
|
Armenia, United States
|
| Morichales
|
Chris Gude
|
United States, Colombia
|
Experimental Films – 2025
| English title
|
Original title
|
Director(s)
|
Production countrie(s)
|
| Dreaming Is Not Sleeping
|
Rouzbeh Rashidi
|
Ireland, Germany, Poland, and Denmark
|
| Mare's Nest
|
Ben Rivers
|
United Kingdom, France, Canada
|
Rising Stars
Cinema of the World
The following films were selected in this section:[17]
| English title
|
Original title
|
Director(s)
|
Production countrie(s)
|
| Amoeba |
核 |
Siyou Tan |
Singapore, Netherlands, France, Spain, South Korea
|
| Becoming
|
Vosten
|
Zhannat Alshanova
|
Kazakhstan
|
| Calle Málaga
|
Maryam Touzani
|
Morocco, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium
|
| Calorie
|
Eisha Marjara
|
Canada
|
| The Chronology of Water |
Kristen Stewart |
France, Latvia, United Kingdom, United States
|
| DJ Ahmet
|
Georgi M. Unkovski
|
North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Serbia, Croatia
|
| Enzo
|
Robin Campillo
|
France, Italy, Belgium
|
| Girl
|
女孩
|
Shu Qi
|
Taiwan, China
|
| Girls on Wire
|
想飞的女孩
|
Vivian Qu
|
China
|
| In Pursuit of Spring
|
Bahorni quvib
|
Ayub Shahobiddinov
|
Uzbekistan
|
| The Janitor
|
El Conserje
|
Mauro Mueller & David Figueroa García
|
Mexico, Switzerland
|
| The Ivy
|
Hiedra
|
Ana Cristina Barragán
|
Ecuador, Mexico, France, Spain
|
| The Last Viking
|
Den Sidste Viking
|
Anders Thomas Jensen
|
Denmark, Sweden
|
| Late Shift
|
Heldin
|
Petra Volpe
|
Switzerland, Germany
|
| The Little Sister |
La Petite Dernière |
Hafsia Herzi |
France, Germany
|
| Lucky Lu
|
Lloyd Lee Choi
|
United States, Canada
|
| Memory of Princess Mumbi
|
Damien Hauser
|
Kenya, Switzerland
|
| Phantoms of July
|
Sehnsucht in Sangerhausen
|
Julian Radlmaier
|
Germany
|
| Rains Over Babel
|
Llueve sobre Babel
|
Gala del Sol
|
Colombia, United States, Spain
|
| Solomamma
|
Janicke Askevold
|
Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Finland
|
Gala Premiere
The following films were selected in this section:[18]
Mission Life
| English title
|
Original title
|
Director(s)
|
Production countrie(s)
|
| Better Go Mad in the Wild |
Raději zešílet v divočině |
Miro Remo |
Czech Republic, Slovakia
|
| The Botanist
|
植物学家
|
Jing Yi
|
China
|
| Hair, Paper, Water... |
Tóc, Giấy và Nước |
Nicolas Graux and Minh Quý Trương |
'Belgium, France, Vietnam
|
| Hen |
Kota |
György Pálfi |
Germany, Greece, Hungary
|
| The Memory of Butterflies
|
La memoria de las mariposas
|
Tatiana Fuentes Sadowski
|
Peru, Portugal
|
| Silent Friend |
Stille Freundin |
Ildikó Enyedi |
Germany, France, Hungary
|
Macabre Dreams
| English title
|
Original title
|
Director(s)
|
Production countrie(s)
|
| Alpha
|
Julia Ducournau
|
France, Belgium
|
| The Book of Sijjin & Illiyyin
|
Kitab Sijjin & Illiyyin
|
Hadrah Daeng Ratu
|
Indonesia
|
| Gorgonà
|
|
Evi Kalogiropoulou
|
Greece, France
|
| The Invisible Half
|
|
Masaki Nishiyama
|
Japan
|
| New Group
|
|
Yûta Shimotsu
|
Japan
|
| Reflection in a Dead Diamond
|
Reflet dans un diamant mort
|
Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani
|
Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, France
|
UNICEF @ IFFI
| English title
|
Original title
|
Director(s)
|
Production countrie(s)
|
| The Beetle Project
|
|
Jin Kwang-kyo
|
South Korea
|
| Happy Birthday
|
هابي بيرث داي
|
Sarah Goher
|
Egypt
|
| The Odyssey of Joy
|
Odiseja e Gëzimit
|
Zgjim Terziqi
|
Kosovo, France
|
Restored classics
Special Presentation
Country of focus
Japan is nominated as the "Country of Focus" for the festival.
Partner Country (Spain) - 2025
Spain is partner Country of the festival
| English title
|
Original title
|
Director(s)
|
Production countrie(s)
|
| Fury
|
La furia
|
Gemma Blasco
|
Spain
|
| Gods of Stone
|
Deuses de Pedra
|
Iván Castiñeiras
|
Spain
|
| Sirāt |
Oliver Laxe |
Spain, France
|
| Sleepless City
|
Ciudad sin sueño
|
Guillermo Galoe
|
Spain, France
|
Awards and winners
The festival concluded with awards ceremony honouring the following awardees:[19][5]
References
- ^ "IFFI 2025 Media Accreditation: Deadline Extended to 10th November". PIB. 5 November 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025 – via press release.
- ^ Naman Ramachandran (20 November 2025). "Telugu Film Industry Celebrated as International Film Festival of India Gets Off to Goan Carnival Start". Variety. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
- ^ "IFFI to Showcase Over 240 Films from 81 Nations, Japan as Focus Country". Deccan Herald. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ^ "Japan country of focus at 56th International Film Festival of India". Telegraph India. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ^ a b Naman Ramachandran, Udita Jhunjhunwala (28 November 2025). "Transgender Vietnamese Drama 'Skin of Youth' Wins Top Prize at International Film Festival of India". Variety. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ "IFFI 2025 to Embody Innovation and Inclusivity, Celebrate Women Filmmakers, New Talent and Creative Excellence in Cinema: Union Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan". PIB. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025 – via press release.
- ^ Naman Ramachandran (8 November 2025). "Berlin Winner 'The Blue Trail' to Open India's IFFI; Fest to Feature Japan Focus, Aamir Khan Masterclass". Variety. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ "IFFI Steps onto the Streets: A Historic Parade Opens the 56th Edition". PIB. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025 – via press release.
- ^ "56th IFFI comes to a close, but the magic of cinema will last forever!". PIB. 28 November 2025. Retrieved 29 November 2025 – via press release.
- ^ Patrick Frater (7 November 2025). "International Film Festival of India announces opening film, main selection and masterclasses". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ Naman Ramachandran (8 November 2025). "Miike Takashi's 'Sham,' Rajkumar Periasamy's 'Amaran' to Compete for Golden Peacock at India's IFFI". Variety. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ Naman Ramachandran (8 November 2025). "'Shape of Momo,' 'Fury' Among Contenders for IFFI Goa's Best Debut Feature Prize". Variety. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ "IFFI 2025 Showcases Seven Debut Masterpieces from India and Around the World". PIB. 9 November 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025 – via press release.
- ^ Naman Ramachandran (7 November 2025). "Cannes Winner 'The President's Cake' Among 10 Films Competing for ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal at India's IFFI Goa Festival". Variety. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ Naman Ramachandran (8 November 2025). "Sivakarthikeyan Starrer 'Amaran' to Open Indian Panorama at IFFI". Variety. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ "Indian Panorama-2025 Official Selection and nomination for Best Web-Series (OTT) Award -2025 for 56th IFFI, 2025". PIB. 8 November 2025. Retrieved 10 November 2025 – via press release.
- ^ "Cinema of the World - 2025". International Film Festival of India. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ^ "56th IFFI Gala Premiere". International Film Festival of India. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ "56th IFFI Concludes in Goa, Vietnamese Film Wins Golden Peacock". News On Air. 28 November 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
External links