What to Expect at the 57th International Film Festival of India: A Celebration of Global Cinema
Opening Lineup Revealed for IFFI 2026
The 57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) has announced its opening lineup, featuring two significant Indian films at the forefront. Scheduled from November 20 to 28, the festival will kick off with the Bollywood movie Dhurandhar, which will open the Indian Panorama feature film section. Additionally, the newly released Ramayana will be the inaugural title for the BRICS cinema segment.
During a recent press briefing, Dhiraj Singh, the Managing Director of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), confirmed these selections. He also revealed that the Ladakhi film Becoming will launch the non-feature film section of the Indian Panorama, a key part of the festival aimed at showcasing the finest in Indian cinema, particularly focusing on regional languages and narratives often overlooked by mainstream distribution.
Exploring the Theme of Stories Without Borders
Celebrating Global Cinema Under the Theme of Stories Without Borders
Festival Director Ashutosh Gowarikar introduced this year’s theme, 'Stories without borders,' highlighting the ability of cinema to cross cultural and geographical barriers. Gowarikar emphasized that stories possess a unique power to transcend the confines of maps and cultural norms. The festival seeks to encourage audiences to step outside their linguistic and cultural comfort zones by showcasing a rich variety of both international and domestic films.
The programming for this year is extensive, featuring 1,900 submissions from 137 countries. The festival will present 159 international films from 87 nations, along with 76 Indian films in 18 different languages. The event will commence with the Polish biographical film Fatherland, directed by Paweł Pawlikowski, and will conclude with the Singaporean film We are all Strangers.
New Segments and International Collaborations
New Segments and International Partnerships
This year’s IFFI has introduced two new categories: Animation and Films About Films. Each of these segments will showcase five films, with the latter focusing on the technical aspects and artistry of filmmaking, a response to feedback from industry experts. Spain has been designated as the 'Country of Honour,' featuring a selection of four Spanish films, while Russia will participate as a partner country, showcasing four films that highlight its cinematic diversity.
The BRICS segment remains a key highlight of this year’s festival, representing all 11 member nations and various partner countries. By featuring Ramayana as the opening film for this segment, the organizers aim to explore the diverse storytelling traditions within the BRICS nations. These new additions and selections reflect the festival's commitment to expanding its cinematic horizons and promoting international dialogue through film.