Entertainment Desk

The 55th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) begins in Goa today promising to showcase diverse narratives, fresh voices and a focus on young filmmakers.

There will be 19 international premiers, 43 Asian Premiers and 109 Indian premiers of films to be featured at the festival which will run till 28 November.

IFFI 2024 received a record 1,676 submissions from 101 countries but will present over 180 films from 81 countries.

Australia will be the Country of Focus of the festival whose opening film will be the Australian Film “Better Man” by Michael Gracey.

The Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to celebrated Australian director Philip Noyce.

The international competition section of IFFI this year will have 15 feature films (12 foreign and three Indian) that compete for the coveted Best Film Award, a Golden Peacock and a cash prize of Rs40 lakhs. Apart from the Best Film, the jury will also determine winners in the best director, best actor (male), best actor (female) and special jury prize.

The jury for the international competition section will be headed by Bollywood filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, and will include Anthony Chen, a renowned Singaporean writer, director, and producer, Elizabeth Karlsen, respected UK producer, Fran Borgia, a distinguished producer based in Asia & Jill Bilcock, a renowned Australian film editor.

In Best Feature Film Debut Director award category, five foreign and two Indian films will compete for the coveted Silver Peacock and Rs10 lakh as cash prize and a certificate.

There will be a Best Indian Debut Director award to recognise young filmmakers in the country and a platform Creative Minds of Tomorrow to support 100 young filmmakers.

A new Best Debut Indian Director Award has been introduced to honour emerging talent. The prize for this category contains Certificate and Cash Prize of Rs.5 lakhs.

The Indian Panorama section will showcase 25 feature films and 20 non-feature films.

Best Web Series (OTT) Award has received 46 entries this year compared to 32 last year. Certificates and a cash prize of Rs10 Lakhs will be given as prize money to the winning series.

IFFI 2024 will pay tribute to Indian cinema legends such as Raj Kapoor, Mohammed Rafi, Tapan Sinha and Akkineni Nageswara Rao with special audio-visual performances in the opening and closing ceremonies.

IFFI 2024 will also champion diversity and inclusion with 47 films directed by women and 66 works by young and debut filmmakers.

Film aficionados can look forward to over 25 masterclasses and panel discussions at the Kala Academy, led by industry luminaries such as composer A R Rahman, lyricist Prasoon Joshi, actress Shabana Azmi, director Mani Ratnam, director-producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Philip Noyce and John Seale.

As far as the Film Bazaar in this year’s IFFI, South Asia’s largest film market, is concerned, it is set to be the largest yet, with more than 350 film projects featured.