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 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.
In a groundbreaking move, the Indian film industry has announced that January 17, 2025, will be celebrated as Cinema Lovers’ Day. To mark this special occasion, movie tickets in standard formats will be priced at a flat rate of Rs 99 across the country.
This innovative initiative aims to make movies more accessible and affordable for cinema enthusiasts, promoting a culture of film appreciation and inclusivity. The subsidized ticket prices will be applicable for all movies released on this day, making it an exciting opportunity for audiences to catch the latest releases at a fraction of the usual cost.
The first edition of Cinema Lovers’ Day promises to be a grand celebration of Indian cinema, with theaters nationwide participating in this landmark event. Film buffs, families, and movie enthusiasts of all ages can look forward to a fun-filled day of entertainment, with a wide range of films to choose from.
A Boost to the Film Industry
Cinema Lovers’ Day is expected to provide a significant boost to the Indian film industry, which has been growing rapidly in recent years. By making movies more affordable and accessible, the initiative aims to increase footfalls in theaters, promote new releases, and foster a sense of community among cinema enthusiasts.
A Celebration of Indian Cinema
The introduction of Cinema Lovers’ Day is a testament to the power of cinema to unite people and transcend boundaries. As the Indian film industry continues to evolve and grow, this initiative promises to be an exciting addition to the country’s cinematic landscape.
So mark your calendars for January 17, 2025, and get ready to celebrate Cinema Lovers’ Day with your friends and family. With Rs 99 tickets nationwide, it’s going to be a day to remember!
Key Highlights:
Cinema Lovers’ Day will be celebrated on January 17, 2025.
Standard-format movie tickets will be priced at Rs 99 nationwide.
The initiative aims to promote film appreciation and inclusivity.
The first edition of Cinema Lovers’ Day promises to be a grand celebration of Indian cinema.
