IFFI 2025: Rajinikanth To Be Felicitated For Completing 50 Years In Cinema

Superstar Rajinikanth made his debut with the 1975 Tamil movie Apoorva Raagangal, by K. Balachander. This year marks 50 years of his cinematic journey. To honour this milestone, the 56th International Film Festival of India will pay tribute to Rajinikanth's for his five-decade journey during the closing ceremony of the event. The film festival, which will feature over 240 films, is scheduled to take place in Goa from November 20 to 28, 2025.

"IFFI 2025 marks a significant chapter as it embraces inclusivity and diversity, showcasing voices from all corners of the world while spotlighting Indian regional cinema's rich tapestry. By introducing programmes focused on emerging filmmakers and digital storytelling, IFFI is nurturing platforms that champion new talent and celebrate the evolution of filmmaking in the digital age," Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, said in a press note.

This year IFFI will feature more than 240 films from 81 countries. It include 13 world premieres, 4 international premieres, and 46 Asian premieres. Japan has been chosen as the Country of Focus this year.

IFFI 2025 will also celebrate the birth centenaries of legendary filmmakers, including Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, P. Bhanumathi, Bhupen Hazarika, and Salil Chowdhury.

The Blue Trail, directed by Brazilian filmmaker Gabriel Mascaro will be the opening film of the festival. For the unversed, the sci-fi fantasy film, won Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival 2025.

For the Indian Panorama section, Tamil film Amaran (Tamil), by Rajkumar Periasamy, will open the feature category, while Kakori will open the non-feature category.

Several renowned figures from Indian and international cinema, including Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Anupam Kher, Christopher Charles Corbould, Aamir Khan, Ravi Varman, Kushboo Sundar, Bobby Deol, Suhasini Maniratnam, Pete Draper, and Sreekar Prasad will conduct masterclasses during the festival.

Acclaimed films that clinched major awards at international film festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Locarno will also be screened at IFFI 2025. It Was Just an Accident, Father Mother Sister Brother, Dreams (sex Love), Sirat, The Message, No Other Choice, Gloaming in Luomu, and Fiume o Morte!