After screening 270 films, including 15 International Premieres from 180 international titles, hosting 31 masterclasses and panel discussions, the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) concluded in Goa today.
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The prestigious Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to celebrated Australian director Philip Noyce. The closing ceremony saw Luthanian film ‘Toxic’ winning the Golden Peacock Award for Best Film. Best director went to Bogdan Muresanu from Romania for the film ‘The New Year That Never Came’. ICFT International Film Prize with UNESCO Gandhi Medal was awarded to the film ‘Crossing’ directed by Levan Akin.
Vikrant Massey was awarded Indian film personality of the year.
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The Best OTT Web Series Award was presented to ‘Lampan’. Best debut director of an indian feature film award went to Navjyot Bandiwadekar for film ‘Gharat Ganpati’.
Australia was the country in focus this year, offering delegates a chance to explore the rich and diverse world of Australian cinema.
The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of Goa CM Pramod Sawant, along with stars such as Nagarjuna, Rajkummar Rao, Jaideep Ahlawat, Sanya Malhotra, Amy Baruah, and more. The event also featured electrifying performances by Ishaan Khattar and Sunny Kaushal.
The closing ceremony was attended by notable personalities, including Vikrant Massey, Rashmika Mandanna, Pratik Gandhi, Shriya Saran, Ritwik Bhowmik, Shreya Chaudhary, Mame Khan, Nikita Gandhi, Digvijay Singh, and others. Here are the highlights of the festival that left cinema enthusiasts asking for more:
World’s Best Films
Handpicked films from across the globe were the heart of this year’s festival. Many screenings were sold out, with long queues of film lovers eager to see the films. ‘Better Man’ was the opening film, while ‘Dry Season’ marked the festival’s closing film. Other films that garnered attention included ‘For Rana’, ‘The New Year That Never Came’, ‘Happy Ending’, ‘Synkefri’, and ‘Me, Maryam’, ‘The Children’ and ‘26 Others’.
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Masterclasses and Panel Discussions
True to the adage “Knowledge shared is knowledge earned,” the masterclasses and panel discussions at IFFI were a highlight. Industry luminaries like A. R. Rahman, Mani Ratnam, Sonu Nigam, Ranbir Kapoor, Nagarjuna, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Sivakarthikeyan, Kriti Sanon, and many others shared insights about their work with an eager audience.
Buzzing Red Carpet
The red carpet was abuzz with celebrities and filmmakers showcasing their work at IFFI 2024. Stars like R. Madhavan, Yami Gautam, Sharmila Tagore, Rakhee Gulzar, Boman Irani, Prakash Jha, Aparshakti Khurana, Avinash Tiwary, Pankaj Kapur, Saurabh Shukla, Tisca Chopra, Manish Malhotra, Amit Sadh, Rajit Kapoor, and many more dazzled as they made their way down the carpet.
Launch of Krish, Trish, and Baltiboy: Bharat Hain Hum 2
The second season of the animated series ‘Krish, Trish, and Baltiboy: Bharat Hain Hum’ was launched at IFFI. Produced by Graphiti Studios in collaboration with India’s Central Bureau of Communication (CBC), the series was launched by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB). The event saw the presence of superstar Nagarjuna, I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju, Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwivedi, CBC Director General Yogesh Baweja, Graphiti Studios Founder Munjal Shroff, CEO Tilak Shetty, and others including actress Amala Akkineni.
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Noble Causes at IFFI
This year, IFFI supported several noble causes. A fashion show was organized at IFFIESTA, where individuals from marginalized communities—including cancer patients, wheelchair-bound individuals, transgender persons, acid attack survivors, and more—walked the ramp. This inclusive platform, supported by the Kamla Ankibai Ghamandiram Gowani Trust, helped empower and inspire these individuals.
Centenary Celebrations
The festival celebrated the centenary of legends like Raj Kapoor, Mohammed Rafi, Tapan Sinha, and Akkineni Nageswara Rao, with screenings of their iconic works: Awara, Hum Dono, Harmonium, and Devadasu.
Screening of Restored Classics
The National Film Archives of India (NFAI), under the National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM), presented seven restored classics. The films included Dadasaheb Phalke’s Kaliya Mardan, Raj Kapoor’s Awara, Dev Anand’s Hum Dono, Tapan Sinha’s Harmonium, the Telugu classic Devadasu starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Satyajit Ray’s Seemabaddha, and K. A. Abbas’ Saat Hindustani.
IFFIESTA: A Fusion of Cinema and Culture
IFFIESTA, a vibrant fusion of cinema, art, culture, and entertainment, brought the magic of cinema together with live music and captivating performances. The IFFI Parade, a carnival rally themed “Celebrating the Joy of Cinema,” was a highlight, blending creativity and culture.
Partners
IFFI 2024 collaborated with a diverse array of partners across various industries. Key partners included Qube, Barco, SMPTE, Pulz, Netflix, YouTube, Jio Studios, Amazon, District, Svayam, Coke, Aptech, UNICEF, Lakme Academy, IMDb, Kamla Group, Picture Time, Shorts TV, Billion Readers, India Signing Hands, and more.
