The International Film Festival of India returns to celebrate the joy of cinema from November 20 to 28, 2025, bringing together filmmakers, artists, industry professionals, and movie lovers from around the world. This year, the festival expands its vision by placing accessibility at the heart of its cultural celebration, ensuring that the magic of cinema is open to everyone.
Designed with inclusivity in mind, the festival grounds feature wheelchair-friendly spaces throughout the venue, allowing seamless movement and comfortable viewing experiences. Sign-language interpreters will be present across key sessions, screenings, and interactive events, ensuring that the deaf and hard-of-hearing community can fully engage with conversations, presentations, and moments that define IFFI each year.
With improved elevator access and thoughtfully designed pathways, the festival ensures that guests of all mobility levels can enjoy the full IFFI experience without barriers. More than just a showcase of films, IFFI 2025 stands as a celebration of community, diversity, and shared storytelling.
By embracing accessibility, the festival reaffirms that cinema is not only an art form but a universal language meant to be experienced and enjoyed by all.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has officially opened registrations for WaveX booths at WAVES Bazar, the exclusive startup showcase under the WaveX initiative, to be held during the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa from November 20–24, 2025.
This initiative provides emerging AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, Extended Reality) and Media-Tech startups with an unparalleled opportunity to connect with global industry leaders, investors, and production studios.
Located near Film Bazaar, the vibrant networking hub of IFFI, WAVES Bazar offers startups the perfect platform to present innovations and build collaborations within the creative economy.
Each startup booth, priced at ₹30,000 on a shared basis, includes:
2 Delegate Passes
Lunch and High Tea
Evening Networking Opportunities
Direct Exposure to Global Film, Media & Tech Professionals
Limited stalls are available and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested startups can register at wavex.wavesbazaar.com or contact wavexmib[at]gov[dot]in for more details.
About IFFI, Goa: Established in 1952, the International Film Festival of India is one of Asia’s most prestigious film festivals, drawing global participation and serving as a platform for creative collaboration. The 56th edition will run from November 20–28, 2025, in Panaji, Goa.
About WaveX: WaveX is a national startup accelerator under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. It focuses on nurturing entrepreneurship and innovation in the AVGC-XR and media-tech sectors through collaborations with academia, industry, and incubation networks — strengthening India’s creative economy.
Source: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting / WaveX Initiative
Goa, October 2025 — The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is set to captivate cinema enthusiasts with a special session featuring renowned VFX Supervisor Pete Draper, whose visionary work has redefined visual storytelling in Indian cinema. Known for creating breathtaking visuals in cinematic blockbusters like Baahubali, RRR, and several international projects, Draper will take audiences behind the scenes to explore how technology and imagination combine to create movie magic.
At IFFI 2025, Draper will share insights into the evolving world of visual effects — from concept visualization and CGI integration to the seamless blending of digital environments with live action. His talk will highlight the creative and technical processes that transform directors’ visions into spectacular visual experiences.
A veteran in the field of digital artistry, Pete Draper has been instrumental in shaping the modern landscape of Indian VFX. His expertise spans a diverse range of cinematic styles, from historical epics to futuristic fantasies. His work on Baahubali and RRR showcased how Indian cinema could achieve Hollywood-level visual grandeur, inspiring a new generation of filmmakers and digital artists.
The 56th edition of IFFI continues to emphasize the confluence of art, technology, and innovation in cinema. Sessions like these not only offer a glimpse into the craftsmanship behind filmmaking but also celebrate the collaborative spirit that defines the film industry.
The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), the nodal agency behind IFFI, has consistently brought together global film experts, creative professionals, and cinema lovers to exchange ideas, explore new perspectives, and honor the evolving art of filmmaking.
Audiences attending IFFI 2025 can look forward to a captivating deep dive into the artistry of VFX — where imagination meets innovation, and the impossible becomes cinematic reality.
Don Bosco College’s Department of Mass Communication & Journalism, in collaboration with its Film Club Cinemaniacs, hosted the 4th edition of Cinemania on 9th and 10th October 2025. The two-day event combined interdepartmental and intercollegiate competitions, showcasing the creativity, talent, and cinematic passion of students across Goa.
Day One kicked off with the traditional lighting of the lamp by Chief Guest Mr. Sachin Chatte, veteran film critic, alongside College Director Rev. Fr. Kinley D’Cruz, Principal Dr. Cedric Silveira, and Faculty In-Charge Asst. Prof. Agnelo D’Souza. Departments competed in events such as Lord of the Frames, What If?, Genres of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Any Dept Can Dance 2, with Team I.T. retaining the overall champion title.
Day Two welcomed ten colleges from across Goa for the intercollegiate edition. The red-carpet inauguration featured award-winning filmmaker Mr. Christ Silva as Chief Guest, who inspired students to tell culturally rooted stories. Students represented iconic film directors and competed in events like Action Replayy, MisMatched 3.0, Flopbuster, and Absolute Cinema, a five-hour filmmaking challenge. The dance competitions, including Let’s Nach-O!, brought energy and creativity to the stage.
Winners & Highlights:
Champions: Team Priyadarshan, Dhempe College, Miramar
Runners-up: Team Christopher Nolan, Rosary College
Mr. & Ms. Cinemania: Mr. Swayam Padwal & Ms. Suhani Naik, Dhempe College
The two-day spectacle concluded with gratitude expressed by Asst. Prof. Agnelo D’Souza, celebrating the contributions of faculty, sponsors, and students. Cinemania: Phase Four left behind a legacy of collaboration, creativity, and a shared love for cinema.
The International Purple Fest Goa 2025 will open with a powerful screening of “Rabb Di Awaaz,” India’s first multi-inclusive and multi-accessible Hindi feature film. The screening, scheduled for October 9 at INOX Panjim (Screen 1), is a fitting start to a festival that champions inclusivity and accessibility in every form.
Directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Ojaswwee Sharma, the film explores the lives, challenges, and aspirations of persons with disabilities. What sets this film apart is its authentic casting — featuring actors with disabilities in key roles — including lead actor Shiv Kumar Sharma, who is visually impaired. His nuanced performance lends emotional depth and truth to the film’s narrative, making it not only a cinematic experience but a social statement.
“Rabb Di Awaaz” has already created a global ripple. It has completed over 275 complimentary screenings across India and internationally, spanning over 650 days. The film has reached audiences in schools, colleges, universities, and special education institutions across 13 Indian states and territories, including Goa, Delhi, Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and more. Internationally, it has been featured in festivals across California, Leicester, and London. It was most recently recognized by the United Nations India and UNESCO at the We Care Film Festival 2025 for its commitment to accessibility and inclusion in cinema.
Ahead of the main screening at IPFG-2025, the film was already introduced to audiences in Goa through a series of pre-event screenings under the Purple Spectrum initiative, led by the Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Government of Goa. The film was showcased at educational institutions like Chubby Cheeks Spring Valley High School, St. Britto High School, Goa University, and the National Association for the Blind, among others. This made Goa the first Indian state administration to invite and facilitate screenings of “Rabb Di Awaaz” across multiple educational setups.
Director Ojaswwee Sharma expressed deep gratitude to the Government of Goa for this opportunity, stating that it represents a meaningful step toward national recognition for inclusive cinema. He emphasized that this film is not merely an artistic project but part of a larger cultural movement that uses cinema as a catalyst for empathy, dialogue, and social change.
As part of the festival’s rich and inclusive programming, the screening of “Rabb Di Awaaz” reaffirms that inclusive cinema is not a niche category but an essential pillar of India’s evolving cultural narrative. With policymakers, educators, and changemakers in attendance, the festival provides an important platform to amplify the voices and stories that matter.
