IFFI 2023: Madhuri Dixit To Headline Ceremony; What's More In Store?

The 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa will kick off with a star-studded opening ceremony, celebrating the grandeur of cinema. Headlining the event will be actors Shahid Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit, who promise a mix of glamour and artistic brilliance.

Joining Shahid and Madhuri are a constellation of other stars, including Shriya Saran, Nushrratt Bharuccha, and Pankaj Tripathi, as well as musical luminaries like Shantanu Moitra, Shreya Ghoshal, and Sukhwinder Singh. Aparshakti Khurana and Karishma Tanna will host the ceremony, set to take place at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium. The event is scheduled to run in Goa from November 20 to 28.

The 54th International Film Festival of India, featuring selected films as part of Film Bazaar Recommends, will present a diverse tapestry of emotions and themes. These films delve into topics such as grief, the complexities of quarantine, patriarchal norms, environmental change, and the empowerment of women, promising a rich and varied cinematic experience.

Selections and Themes

Sanjay Mishra’s Giddh, Imaad Shah’s Tuesday’s Women, the Bengali film Where My Grandmother Lives, and the horror film The Exile are among the notable selections in Film Bazaar Recommends. Each film delves into distinct themes and emotions, offering a diverse cinematic experience.

The Film Bazaar Recommends selections, including features and documentaries, were meticulously chosen from over 200 submissions spanning shorts, mid-length films, documentaries, and features. Out of this vast pool, 10 films were handpicked by the NFDC Film Bazaar team for their exceptional storytelling and thematic depth.

Fiction Category

In the Fiction Shorts category, films like Pulkit Arora’s Anu portray a widow's journey through grief, while Chandan Singh Shekhawat’s Roti Koon Banasi tackles conventional notions of patriarchy and masculinity. Imaad Shah’s Tuesday’s Women explores language and music, and Sanjay Mishra’s Giddh, directed by Manish Saini, portrays an old man's struggles.

Documentary Category

Within the Docu Shorts category, projects like Gopi by Nishanth Gurumurthy delve into social standing and environmental catastrophe, and Iron Women of Manipur by Haoban Paban Kumar pays tribute to sports personalities. In the Docu Mid-Length category, Tasmiah Afrin Mou’s Where My Grandmother Lives brings forth Bengali narratives.

Feature Category

These selections in Features, including Samman Roy’s horror film The Exile and an animated film titled Return of the Jungle, highlight the vibrancy of Indian cinema. They not only showcase diverse stories but also celebrate linguistic diversity, encapsulating the essence of India's cinematic landscape.

More About NFDC Film Bazaar

The 17th edition of the NFDC Film Bazaar has announced the official lineup of feature-length projects participating in the co-production market. Scheduled from November 20 to 24, 2023, at the Marriott Resort in Goa, this edition will showcase 20 projects with a diverse global narrative. 

These projects hail from 11 countries, including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the USA, the UK, Singapore, Germany, France, Poland, Luxembourg, and Israel. Filmmakers behind these projects will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas to a wide range of industry professionals at the Open Pitch.

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