As the sun dips low over the Mandovi River, casting a golden hue on Panjim’s colonial facades, the city’s arteries pulse with the rhythm of stardust already descending on Goa.
The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) began earlier this week and continues until November 28, drawing more than 7,500 delegates to the Goan capital. Preparations across Panaji now surge into full view, blending meticulous logistics with bursts of cultural fervour. From festooned streets to fortified venues, Panaji is no longer just a quaint riverside town — it is a global stage alive with cinematic energy.
INOX Multiplex, the iconic Kala Academy, and other screening hubs are operating at full capacity as organisers maintain that every detail is in place. “We leave no stone unturned,” says a senior official, as 270 films from 81 countries stream into the festival’s programme.
At the heart of the cultural swirl is IFFIESTA, the festival’s bold new cultural arm debuting this year — an extravaganza of music, performances, and storytelling that spills cinema’s magic across Goa’s sunlit streets and beaches. Open-air screenings, float parades, and Romtamel competitions infuse local flavour into the international showcase. Five Goan films earn special screenings, while seven Konkani productions illuminate dedicated slots.
The opening ceremony on November 20 kicked off with a vibrant street carnival along Dayanand Bandodkar Marg, which was closed for the day. Tableaux from production houses and state delegations marched opposite the Old GMC Building in a cascade of lights, sound, and narratives.
Security measures now intensify across Panjim. Plainclothes personnel, CCTV networks, and drone surveillance blanket key zones, ensuring a safe space for stars, delegates, and cinephiles.
The city wears a festive makeover: illuminated arches, thematic banners proclaiming “Innovation, Creativity and Technology,” and floral motifs inspired by film reels line MG Road and 18th June Road. Workers, active since early November, continue to add final touches.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant calls this year’s theme a beacon for India’s evolving film ecosystem — one that blends storytelling with cutting-edge technology to expand India’s global cinematic footprint.
The festival opened with the Brazilian dystopian drama The Blue Trail, setting a reflective, futuristic tone. Diversity thrives with 50 films by women directors, 21 Oscar contenders, and 50 debut works, including 13 world premieres and four international debuts. India’s Panorama section showcases 50 regional films expected to draw enthusiastic audiences. Tamil icon Rajinikanth receives the Lifetime Achievement honour, while 21 masterclasses led by industry veterans attract packed halls.
Japan stands as the Country of Focus, represented by six curated films that trace the evolution of Japanese cinematic style. Spain participates as Partner Country, and Australia as Spotlight Country, continuing IFFI’s tradition of honouring excellence in world cinema.
The Press Information Bureau manages bustling media zones equipped for interviews, live streams, and instant updates via LED screens and WhatsApp alerts. Konkani press releases keep the local community connected to every development.
On November 18, the PIB-organised Film Appreciation Course conducted by FTII faculty served as a quiet but essential prelude to the festival. In a single intensive day, journalists delved into the grammar of the frame, the emotional logic of editing, and the politics of narrative. The session became less a course and more a gentle resetting of the journalistic lens — a reminder that beneath the red carpets and celebrity chatter lies the enduring craft of cinema.
For first-timers, it was an initiation into looking — really looking — at films with curiosity and discipline. For others, it offered a reflective pause before the festival’s pace accelerated.
Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan underscores IFFI’s role in strengthening India’s soft power, calling it “a dialogue across borders, fostering collaborations that echo far beyond Goa’s shores.”
As Panjim’s night markets buzz with conversations about premieres, red carpets, and after-parties, one thing is clear: IFFI 56 is not arriving — it is already unfolding, weaving itself into the city’s soul, reel by reel.
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A version of this article was first published in The Draft
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