The Blue Trail, directed by Gabriel Mascaro, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival, will open the 56th Indian International Film Festival in Goa.
This Brazil feature follows a 75-year-old woman whose journey through the Amazon becomes a manifesto of freedom and dignity.
The festival closes with Cannes Critics Week Award winner A Useful Ghost, directed by Ratchapoum Bumbunchachok.
IFFI 2025 received a record 2,314 entries from 127 countries. The program includes 13 world premieres, 4 international premieres and 46 Asian premieres, presenting more than 240 films from 81 countries.
The festival will screen 160 international titles, including more than 80 award-winning films and 21 official Oscar nominees. Notable titles include “It Was Just An Accident” (Palme d’Or, Cannes), “Father Mother Sister Brother” (Golden Lion, Venice), “Dreams (sex Love)” (Golden Bear, Berlin), “Sirât” (Cannes Grand Jury Prize), and “The Message” (Silver Bear, Berlin).
Japan takes center stage as a nation, with six carefully selected titles ranging from intimate dramas, festival-winning psychological thrillers, queer stories, and experimental works showcasing both emerging and established filmmakers. Spain will be featured as a partner country and Australia will be featured in the spotlight section.
The gala premiere segment will screen 18 titles including 13 world premieres, two Asian premieres, one Indian premiere and two special showcase screenings.
The Indian Panorama category will feature 25 feature films, 20 non-feature films and five debut films. Rajkumar Periyasamy’s Tamil version ‘Amaran’ starts the featured section of Indian Panorama while ‘Kakori’ starts the non-featured section.
More than 50 films by women directors will be screened in the International section, with more than 50 films by debut filmmakers reflecting the festival’s commitment to new voices. The new Best Debut Director award at the Indian Feature Film Awards carries a cash prize of 500,000 Indian Rupees ($6,000). The Best Web Series award, chosen from among 30 entries, will receive 1 million rupees ($12,000) to be split between creators and producers.
IFFI 2025 marks the birth centenary of legendary Indian filmmakers like Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwick Ghatak, P. Bhanumati, Bhupen Hazarika, Salil Chaudhary and will screen their masterpieces.
The festival’s 21 masterclasses and panels will feature appearances by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Anupam Kher, Christopher Charles Corbould, Bobby Deol, Aamir Khan, Ravi Varman, Khushboo Sundar, Suhasini Maniratnam, Pete Draper and Sreekar Prasad. Sessions will cover editing, acting in the digital age, sustainability, AI, and VFX technology.
The concurrent market, the 19th Waves Film Bazaar, will feature more than 300 film projects through the Screenwriters Lab, market screenings, viewing room library, and co-production market. The Co-Production Market will feature 22 feature films and five documentaries competing for a $20,000 cash grant. This year’s Waves Film Bazaar Featured section features 22 films representing 14 languages and 4 countries.
This year, the Creative Minds of Tomorrow program received 799 applications and selected 124 participants across 13 filmmaking techniques, including three new disciplines. The program includes a 48-hour filmmaking challenge in collaboration with ShortsTV.
Movies and events will be held at five major venues in Goa: Inox Panjim, MacInnes Palace, Inox Porvorim, Z Square Samrat Ashok and Ravindra Bhawan Madgaon. Outdoor screenings will be held at Miramar Beach, Rabindra Bhawan Fatorda and Anjuna Beach. All venues have accessibility measures in place, including audio descriptions, sign language interpretation, and multilingual dubbing.
The festival will offer 15 competitive and selected categories, including the International Competition category, Best Director’s Debut Feature Film Award, ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal Award, and special categories such as Eerie Dreams, Documontage, Experimental Film, UNICEF, and Restored Classics.
Established in 1952, the Indian International Film Festival is organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Government of Goa. Founded in 1975, the National Film Development Corporation manages the Waves Film Bazaar, which connects Indian creators with global markets.
“IFFI 2025 marks an important chapter in showcasing voices from around the world and embracing inclusivity and diversity, highlighting India’s rich tapestry of regional cinema,” said Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting. “By introducing programs focused on emerging filmmakers and digital storytelling, IFFI is fostering a platform that supports new talent and celebrates the evolution of filmmaking in the digital age.”
L. Murugan, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, added, “This edition represents India’s unwavering commitment to film as a global language that connects cultures and inspires creativity. By expanding our showcase of sustainable filmmaking and immersive experiences, IFFI strengthens our vision for India as a leader in film artistry and innovation.”
The 56th Indian International Film Festival will be held in Goa from November 20th to 28th.
