The 56th International Film Festival of India took place from 20 to 28 November 2025 at Panaji , Goa .[ 1] The Blue Trail Gabriel Mascaro .[ 2] 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]
56th International Film Festival of India Official poster
Opening film The Blue Trail Gabriel Mascaro Closing film A Useful Ghost Location Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium at Panaji , Goa , India Founded 1952 Awards Hosted by No. of films240 Festival date Opening: 20 November 2025 (2025-11-20 ) November 2025 (2025-11-28 ) Website iffigoa
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] 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 Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke was screened as the closing film of the festival.[ 6]
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
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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]
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 Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke .[ 9]
ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal jury
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Ahmed Bedjaoui , artistic director of the International Film Festival of Algiers, chairpersonXueyan 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
Raja Bundela , Indian actor, producer, politician and civil activist, chairpersonMalay Ray, Cinematographer
Subhash Sehgal, film editor
Jadumani Dutta, filmmaker
Krishna Hebbal, actor
Kamlesh K Mishra, filmmaker
Arun Bakshi , actor, singerAsim Sinha, actor
Ashok Sharan, producer
Sukumar Jatania, cinematographer
B S Basavaraju, cinematographer Non-feature film jury
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Dharam Gulati, Cinematographer, chairperson
Anjali Panjabi, Filmmaker & Producer
Bobby Sarma Baruah , FilmmakerRekha Gupta, Film Critic and Film Curator
Ashok Cashyap, Film Producer, Filmmaker and Cinematographer
A. Karthik Raaja, Cinematographer
Jyotsana Garg, Filmmaker
The following venues will host the festival screenings.
Inox Panjim,
Maquinez Palace
Inox Porvorim
Z-Square Samrat Ashok
Ravindra Bhavan Madgaon
Open-air screenings
Opening midfest and closing films
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The opening and closing films of the festival are:[ 10]
International competition
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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
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This section will feature seven first-time filmmakers from the world of cinema.[ 12] [ 13]
ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal
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From The Festivals - 2025
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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
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]
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
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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
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
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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
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 GarcíaMexico, 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
The following films were selected in this section:[ 18]
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
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
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
Special Presentation
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Japan is nominated as the "Country of Focus" for the festival.
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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
Rajinikanth , recipient of Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement AwardThe festival concluded with awards ceremony honouring the following awardees:[ 19] [ 5]
↑ "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 . Retrieved 7 November 2025 .↑ "Japan country of focus at 56th International Film Festival of India" . Telegraph India . Retrieved 7 November 2025 .1 2 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). " . 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 . Retrieved 7 November 2025 .↑ "56th IFFI Gala Premiere" . International Film Festival of India . Retrieved 9 November 2025 .↑ "56th IFFI Concludes in Goa, Vietnamese Film Wins Golden Peacock" . News On Air . 28 November 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025 .
