Even as the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is set to unveil a spectacle, starting today, innovations are being trumpeted and celebrated too. Classic films, including some of Shah Rukh Khan’s, will be screened in inflatable theatres.

According to a PTI report from Panaji, Goa, three films of superstar Shah Rukh Khan will be screened at the 56th IFFI in inflatable theatres, which is a collaboration among the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) that have partnered with mobile digital cinema company PictureTime Digiplex  for this innovation.

In a first-of-its-kind showcase, ‘Chak De! India’, ‘Darr’ and ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ will be screened inside a fully equipped inflatable cinema to be set up at Goa’s Kala Academy, one of IFFI’s primary venues. The festival runs from November 20 to 28.

PictureTime, known for deploying inflatable theatres in remote and underserved regions, will install a high-tech mobile theatre at the Academy grounds, according to a press release.

Meanwhile, an official government statement on the IFFI yesterday said that the 56th IFFI would “redefine” how a festival begins — a grand, immersive Opening Parade.

For the first time, according to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), the film festival will welcome its audience with a moving celebration where “stories glide, music breathes, characters step off the screen, and India reveals itself through rhythm, colour, pride and breath-taking imagination”.

Scheduled to take place today at 3 pm from the Entertainment Society of Goa office to Kala Academy, this one of its kind parade will transform the streets of Goa into a living canvas of India’s cinematic and cultural brilliance.

The parade will be led by the magnificent state tableaus of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, and Goa, each presenting a vivid portrait of identity and imagination. Andhra Pradesh brings the charm of Visakhapatnam’s golden shores, the mystic valleys of Araku and the pulsating spirit of Tollywood. Haryana offers a colourful fusion of folklore, theatre, culture and cinematic pride. Goa, the festival’s long-standing home, forms the emotional heart of the procession, celebrating its cosmopolitan warmth and timeless bond with world cinema.

Marching alongside the states are grand cinematic tableaus from India’s leading production houses — each a moving universe of storytelling excellence. The mythic power of ‘Akhanda 2’, the emotional depth of Ram Charan’s ‘Peddi’, the creative force of Mythri Movie Makers, the iconic legacy of Zee Studios, the global vision of Hombale Films, the Odia heritage of Bindusagar, Ultra Media’s centenary homage to Guru Dutt and the vibrant storytelling realm of WAVES OTT will all converge to showcase the boundless diversity of Indian cinema, the statement added.

Adding a historic dimension is the NFDC 50-year tableau, honouring five decades of nurturing filmmakers and fostering cinematic innovation across the nation.

Adding charm, nostalgia and delight  will be India’s beloved animation favourites — Chhota Bheem & Chutki and Motu Patlu & Bittu Bahanebaaz  — who will be stepping off the screen to greet audiences with laughter, warmth and playful spirit.