The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is set to return to Goa from November 20 to 28, 2025, promising a cinematic celebration of global storytelling with more than 240 films from 81 countries. The festival will feature 13 world premieres, five international premieres, and 44 Asian premieres, making it one of the most expansive editions in recent years.

According to a PTI report, Japan has been named the Country of Focus for IFFI 2025, with six specially curated titles that reflect the country’s evolving cinematic language. Spain will serve as the Partner Country, while Australia has been selected as the Spotlight Country.

The festival will host three international competitions featuring 32 films from five continents, alongside several award-winning titles from prestigious global festivals, including South Korea’s No Other Choice, Cannes Palme d’Or winner It Was Just An Accident, Venice Golden Lion winner Father Mother Sister Brother, Berlin Silver Bear recipient The Message, and Sentimental Value by Joachim Trier.

This year’s edition received a record-breaking 2,314 submissions from 127 countries, including 1,098 entries from 18 Indian languages. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that IFFI 2025 will mark a milestone year by embracing inclusivity and diversity, giving space to new voices and emerging creators. “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,” Vaishnaw said in a statement.

The opening film for IFFI 2025 will be The Blue Trail, directed by acclaimed Brazilian filmmaker Gabriel Mascaro. The sci-fi fantasy drama follows a 75-year-old woman’s defiant journey through the Amazon and has already received the Silver Bear – Grand Jury Prize at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival.

The Gala Premieres section will feature 18 titles, including 13 world premieres, two Asia premieres, one India premiere, and two special showcase screenings. Over 160 films will be screened in the International Section, including 21 Oscar-nominated titles. The jury for the International Competition will be headed by filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.

IFFI’s nine curated sections will include Docu-Montage, Rising Stars, From the Festivals, Experimental Films, Restored Classics, Macabre Dreams, Mission Life, UNICEF, and Cinema of the World. The festival will also feature 21 masterclasses and panel discussions at Kala Academy, covering a wide range of topics such as editing in the digital age, AI and VFX technologies, theatre and sustainability, and cinema’s role in promoting peace.

Prominent film personalities including Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Aamir Khan, Anupam Kher, Bobby Deol, Suhasini Maniratnam, Kushboo Sundar, cinematographer Ravi Varman, editor Sreekar Prasad, and VFX experts Christopher Charles Corbould OBE and Pete Draper will participate in these sessions.

IFFI 2025 will also honour the centenaries of Indian cinema legends Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, P. Bhanumathi, Bhupen Hazarika, and Salil Chowdhury by screening restored classics of their work. The Indian Panorama section will feature 25 feature films, 20 non-feature films, and five debut features. Tamil film Amaran, directed by Rajkumar Periyasamy and starring Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi, will open the feature category, while Kakori will lead the non-feature segment.

Actor Raja Bundela will head the feature film jury, while Dharam Gulati will lead the non-feature category. Meanwhile, the Women in Cinema and Emerging Voices sections will highlight inclusivity, showcasing over 50 films directed by women and an equal number by debut filmmakers.

The Waves Film Bazaar, now in its 19th edition, will present over 300 film projects through its Screenwriters Lab, Market Screenings, Co-Production Market, and Viewing Room Library. The Co-Production Market will feature 22 feature films and five documentaries, with cash grants worth USD 20,000 for three winning projects.

The Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT) programme, which attracted 799 entries this year, will host 124 selected participants across 13 filmmaking crafts, introducing three new categories. The initiative will also include a 48-hour filmmaking challenge in collaboration with ShortsTV.

With a diverse lineup of films, discussions, and global collaborations, IFFI 2025 is set to reaffirm Goa’s position as a vibrant hub for world cinema.