Goa, November 13, 2026: Goa is preparing to welcome filmmakers, cinema enthusiasts and members of the global film industry for the 57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), scheduled to take place from November 20 to 28, 2026, under the theme ‘Stories Without Borders’.
The festival has received over 1,900 film submissions from 137 countries and will present more than 150 international films representing 86 countries. The nine-day event promises a diverse programme celebrating international cinema, Indian storytelling and emerging filmmaking talent.
The festival programme was unveiled at a curtain-raiser press conference held at Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon. Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant expressed pride in the state’s association with IFFI, describing the festival as an integral part of Goa’s cultural identity and calendar. He said the state was making arrangements for screening venues, transport, hospitality and public facilities to welcome the international film fraternity.
The event was attended by senior officials and representatives from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), along with filmmakers and members of the film industry.
Festival Director Ashutosh Gowariker highlighted cinema’s ability to connect people across geographical, linguistic and cultural boundaries. He said the theme ‘Stories Without Borders’ reflects the universal emotions and experiences that bring audiences together through storytelling.
Opening, Mid-Fest and Closing Films
The festival will open with Fatherland, directed by Paweł Pawlikowski. Set in post-war Germany in 1949, the film follows Nobel laureate Thomas Mann and his daughter Erika as they travel through a divided country.
I Matter, directed by Alina Șerban and co-produced by Romania, Germany and Belgium, will be screened as the Mid-Fest Film. The 101-minute film features dialogues in Romanian and Romani.
The closing film will be We Are All Strangers, directed by Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen. Presented in Mandarin and English, the film has a runtime of 157 minutes.
Spain as Country of Honour, Russia as Partner Country
Spain will be the Country of Honour at IFFI 2026, with a showcase of four films: The Bad Son, Trinidad, Bitter Christmas by Pedro Almodóvar, and Persegiuiendo a Michael.
Russia will participate as the Partner Country, presenting four films: Four (Четыре), New Home, Bo Bo, directed by Anastasia Kuzina, and Sidney Lumet’s Birthday.
The two showcases will bring different cinematic traditions and creative perspectives to the festival.
Special Focus on BRICS Cinema
IFFI 2026 will feature a special focus on BRICS cinema, bringing films from all 11 member countries, along with contributions from partner countries. India’s Ramayana will open the BRICS segment.
Indian Panorama Celebrates 76 Films Across 18 Languages
The Indian Panorama section will showcase 76 films across 18 languages, reflecting the diversity of India’s cinematic traditions.
The section will open with Dhurandhar, a Hindi feature film, and Becoming, a Ladakhi-language non-feature film.
The selection process received 404 feature-film submissions and 358 non-feature-film submissions. The Best Web Series (OTT) category received 46 eligible entries.
International Debut Competition
The Best Debut Feature Films Competition will feature seven films from different countries, providing a platform for emerging filmmakers and first-time feature directors.
The selected films include Fading Man from Germany, The Sledge and Birds on Ice from India, Paris from Belgium, The Black Sea from Egypt, L’Âge d’Or (The Golden Age) from France and Italy, and Atlantic from China.
The festival will also spotlight women filmmakers and emerging talent, with 52 women filmmakers and 62 debut filmmakers participating across its programme. Competitive sections will feature 10 women filmmakers and 12 debut filmmakers.
New Segments and Creative Minds of Tomorrow
Two new segments, Animation and Films About Films, will be introduced this year. Each will feature five films, expanding the festival’s range of cinematic experiences.
The sixth edition of Creative Minds of Tomorrow will bring together 100 selected participants across 13 filmmaking crafts. The programme will include masterclasses, workshops, in-conversation sessions, a 48-hour filmmaking challenge and a talent camp.
WAVES Film Bazaar and Netflix Collaboration
WAVES Film Bazaar will bring together filmmakers, producers, buyers, distributors and industry stakeholders to encourage collaboration, co-production and business opportunities.
Its key initiatives will include the Screenwriters’ Lab, Co-production Market, Viewing Room and Work-in-Progress Lab.
Netflix will participate as the Knowledge Series partner, supporting industry capacity-building and showcasing its collaboration with the Government to strengthen India’s VFX capabilities and nurture creative talent. Its programme will also include the gala premiere of Pushpak Viman, an international screening of Ray Gunn and participation in pitching sessions.
Masterclasses, Tributes and Restored Classics
IFFI will host 14 sessions at Kala Academy from November 21 to 27, featuring masterclasses, workshops, panel discussions, retrospectives and interactive sessions with filmmakers and industry professionals.
The festival will also pay tribute to filmmaker Andrzej Wajda through a special centenary retrospective featuring five films. The Restored Classics section will present five films celebrating important works of cinema history.
Centenary celebrations will honour the contributions of filmmakers Shakti Samanta and Raj Khosla, actors Uttam Kumar, Suryakant Mandhare, Prem Nazir and Raj Kumar, and music composers O. P. Nayyar and Ravi.
Screening Venues Across Goa
The nine-day festival will feature screenings across 13 indoor screens at four locations, with a combined seating capacity of over 4,000.
In Panaji, seven screens will be available across INOX, Maquinez, Samrat and Ashoka. Other screening venues include INOX at Porvorim, Ravindra Bhavan in Margao and Magic Movie in Ponda.
With an extensive international programme, Indian Panorama selections, industry initiatives and public screenings, IFFI 2026 is set to bring the global cinema community together in Goa.
About IFFI
Established in 1952, the International Film Festival of India is one of Asia’s oldest international film festivals. It is organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, in association with the Government of Goa and the Entertainment Society of Goa. The festival celebrates world cinema, promotes Indian films and provides a platform for creative exchange and cultural understanding.
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