The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will honor Rajinikanth and celebrate his 50 years in the film industry. There will be a special felicitation for the great actor in the closing ceremony of the program.

This year’s festival, which is scheduled to take place in Goa from November 20 to 28, 2025, will showcase a diverse selection of over 240 films from 81 countries. It will include 13 world premieres, 4 international premieres and 46 Asian premieres. The event highlights India’s growing stature in the global film community, with a record-breaking 2,314 submissions received from 127 countries.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said, “IFFI 2025 is an important chapter as it embraces inclusivity and diversity, showcasing voices from all corners of the world while highlighting the rich tapestry of Indian regional cinema.”

“By introducing programs focused on emerging filmmakers and digital storytelling, IFFI is nurturing platforms that foster new talent and celebrate the evolution of filmmaking in the digital age,” he said.

Japanese cinema has been named the focus country at IFFI 2025, reflecting the festival’s ongoing commitment to international collaboration and cultural exchange. The opening film will be Brazilian director Gabriel Mascaro’s ‘The Blue Trail’, a sci-fi and fantasy feature that previously won the Silver Bear, Grand Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival 2025.

Honoring both global and Indian film heritage, IFFI 2025 will celebrate centenaries of great filmmakers like Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, P. Bhanumathi, Bhupen Hazarika and Salil Choudhary through screening of their iconic works. The Indian panorama will begin with Tamil film ‘Amaran’ directed by Rajkumar Periyasamy, while the non-feature segment will begin with ‘Kakori’.

The Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT) initiative has expanded to 2025, increasing the number of selected participants from 75 to 124 and covering 13 filmmaking crafts, including three new disciplines. The program will feature a 48-hour filmmaking challenge in collaboration with ShortsTV, which aims to foster new talent and skills in the industry.

Notable names include Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Anupam Kher, Christopher Charles Corbould, Aamir Khan, Ravi Varman, Khushboo Sundar, Bobby Deol, Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Pete Draper and Srikar Prasad who will be leading masterclasses throughout the event. These sessions are designed to provide insight and advice to aspiring filmmakers attending the festival.

IFFI 2025 screenings will include acclaimed international award-winning and festival favorites, including films recognized at Cannes, Berlin, Locarno and Venice.

Some of these films include ‘It Was Just an Accident’ (Palme d’Or, Cannes), ‘Father Mother Sister Brother’ (Golden Lion, Venice), ‘Dreams (Sex Love)’ (Golden Bear, Berlin), ‘Sirt’ (Grand Jury Prize, Cannes), ‘The Message’ (Silver Bear, Jury Prize, Berlin), ‘No Other Choice’ (People’s Choice Award, TIFF), ‘Glooming in Luomu’ (Best). Film, Busan), and ‘Fimme o Morte!’ (Tiger Award, IFFR).