Market56th International Film Festival of India
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56th International Film Festival of India

The 56th International Film Festival of India took place from 20 to 28 November 2025 at Panaji, Goa. In place of its customary indoor stadium launch, the opening ceremony was presented this year as a carnival parade. The festival opened with the screening of 2025 dystopian drama film The Blue Trail by Gabriel Mascaro. Indian film director and screenwriter 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.

Overview
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. ==Opening and closing ceremonies==
Opening and closing ceremonies
Opening ceremony 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. Closing ceremony 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, directed by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke. ==Jury==
Jury
International Jury , Chairman of jury • Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Indian film director, occasional actor and screenwriter, Chairperson • Graeme Clifford, Australian film director • Remi Adefarasin, English cinematographer • Katharina Schüttler, German television and film actress • Chandran Rutnam, Sri Lankan filmmaker and entrepreneur ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal juryAhmed Bedjaoui, artistic director of the International Film Festival of Algiers, chairperson • Xueyan 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 Feature film juryRaja Bundela, Indian actor, producer, politician and civil activist, chairperson • Malay Ray, Cinematographer • Subhash Sehgal, film editor • Jadumani Dutta, filmmaker • Krishna Hebbal, actor • Kamlesh K Mishra, filmmaker • Arun Bakshi, actor, singer • Asim Sinha, actor • Ashok Sharan, producer • Sukumar Jatania, cinematographer • B S Basavaraju, cinematographer Non-feature film jury • Dharam Gulati, Cinematographer, chairperson • Anjali Panjabi, Filmmaker & Producer • Bobby Sarma Baruah, Filmmaker • Rekha Gupta, Film Critic and Film Curator • Ashok Cashyap, Film Producer, Filmmaker and Cinematographer • A. Karthik Raaja, Cinematographer • Jyotsana Garg, Filmmaker Web Series juryBharatbala Ganapathy, Indian film filmmaker-producer – Chairperson • R Mahendran, Producer • Munjal Shroff, Director and Producer • Rajeshwari Sachdev, Actor • Sekhar Kumar Das, Writer and Director ==Screening venues==
Screening venues
The following venues will host the festival screenings. • Inox Panjim, • Maquinez Palace • Inox Porvorim • Z-Square Samrat Ashok • Ravindra Bhavan Madgaon • Open-air screenings • Miramar Beach • Ravindra Bhavan, Margao • Vagator Beach (Helipad) ==Official selection==
Official selection
Opening midfest and closing films The opening and closing films of the festival are: International competition 15 feature films will compete for the Golden Peacock award. Best Debut Feature Film of a Director This section will feature seven first-time filmmakers from the world of cinema. ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal 10 films are competing for the IFFI ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal: From The Festivals - 2025 Indian Panorama 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. Feature films Mainstream Cinema Section Non-feature Films Best Debut Director Best Web Series OTT Docu–Montage This section comprises documentaries & docu-drama. Experimental Films – 2025 Rising Stars Cinema of the World The following films were selected in this section: Gala Premiere The following films were selected in this section: Mission Life Macabre Dreams UNICEF @ IFFI Restored classics Special Presentation == Country of focus ==
Country of focus
Japan is nominated as the "Country of Focus" for the festival. == Partner Country (Spain) - 2025 ==
Partner Country (Spain) - 2025
Spain is partner Country of the festival ==Awards and winners==
Awards and winners
, recipient of Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award The festival concluded with awards ceremony honouring the following awardees: • Golden Peacock (Best Film): Skin of Youth by Ash Mayfair, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan • Best Director: Santosh Davakhar for Gondhal, India • Best Actor: Ubeimar Rios for A PoetBest Actress: Jara Sofija Ostan for Little Trouble GirlsBest Debut Film of a Director: • Hesam Farahmand for My Daughter’s Hair • Tõnis Pill for FränkBest Debut Director of Indian Feature Film: Karan Singh Tyagi for Kesari Chapter 2Special Jury Award: ''My Father's Shadow'' by Akinola Davies Jr., United Kingdom, Ireland, Nigeria • ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal: Safe House by Eirik Svensson, Norway • Best Web Series Award: Bandish Bandits (Season 2) by Anand TiwariSatyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award: RajinikanthSpecial Recognition for Contribution to Bharatiya Cinema Award: Nandamuri Balakrishna ==References==
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