The 56^th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) opened its 2025 edition yesterday in Goa with an unprecedented, citywide celebration that spilled out of auditoriums and onto the streets. In its first-ever open-city format, the festival transformed public spaces into live performance arenas, blending cinema, culture and community participation.

Officials described the move as a bold reinvention aimed at bringing IFFI “closer to the people” and marking a dramatic new chapter in the festival’s legacy.

For the opening event, according to an official statement, artists, performers and cinephiles converged across Goa’s streets and boulevards, turning the state into what organisers dubbed a “living canvas” of storytelling and creativity.

The government said the reimagined format was designed to showcase India’s cultural dynamism while giving visitors and residents an immersive festival experience beyond traditional venues.

Inaugurating the celebrations, Goa Governor Ashok Gajapathi Raju hailed IFFI’s expanding global stature, calling it a platform that fosters creative exchange, collaboration and cinematic excellence.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant highlighted the State’s growing status as an international filmmaking hub, underscoring its world-class infrastructure and film-friendly policies. He said the 2025 theme, ‘Convergence of Creativity and Technology’, reflects India’s leadership in the global creative economy.

Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan said IFFI continues to evolve with each edition, noting that this year’s street-level inauguration marks a departure from its traditional stadium openings. He linked the festival’s expanding scope to Prime Minister Modi’s push for India’s orange economy driven by content, creativity and culture, and highlighted initiatives such as the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit.