55th IFFI ends with a gala closing ceremony

Goa30/11/24: all good things must come to an end, IFFI 2024 also came to a close on November 28, 2024, at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa, but of course with its lasting impact on celebrating the magic of cinema and the spirit of storytelling, and promising many a pathway for future filmmakers. The 2024 edition of IFFI saw a participation of 11,332 delegates, marking a 12% increase compared to IFFI 2023. Delegates hailed from 34 states and Union Territories across India, alongside international participants from 28 countries.

In the case of Film Bazaar, the number of delegates surged to 1,876, a significant increase from 775 last year. Foreign delegates represented 42 countries. The business projections in the Film Bazaar this year exceeded Rs 500 Crores, marking a significant achievement. The Tech Pavilion featuring 15 industry partners also was an interesting component for the participating delegates.  Rs15.36 Cr worth of sponsorship was achieved from industry partners.

Here’s a summary of the key events of 55^th International Film Festival of India.

OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES

The Opening and Closing Ceremonies featured star-studded appearances and performances, celebrating both Indian and international cinema. The opening ceremony paid tribute to the centenary celebrations and the rich diversity of Indian cinema. The closing ceremony featured music and dance, while also honoring exceptional achievements with awards, including the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Philip Noyce and the Indian Film Personality of the Year Award to Vikrant Massey.

INTERNATIONAL CINEMA

The international cinema at IFFI was a curated selection of 189 films, handpicked from over 1,800 submissions. The lineup included 16 world premieres, 3 international premieres, 44 Asia premieres, and 109 Indian premieres.

Films from 81 countries graced the screens, showcasing diverse cultures, voices, and visions. The competitive sections were equally exciting, with 15 films competing for the prestigious International Competition Award, 10 in the ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal section, and 7 in the Best Debut Feature Film by a Director category.

The Country Focus on Australia added a distinctive flair to the lineup, showcasing the best of Australian cinema in collaboration with the treaty with Screen Australia. The festival opened with the screening of  Australian film Better Man, directed by Michael Gracey.

Amongst the completed films, the Ltihuanian film ‘Toxic’ won the Golden Peacock for Best Film, and the Ronanian Film ‘A New Year That Never Came’ won the Silver Peacock for Best Director.

GALA PREMIERES AND RED CARPETS

Over 100 red-carpet events from the International Section, Indian Panorama, Goan Section, and Beyond Indian Panorama were showcased at the INOX Panjim venue.

The theme of IFFI focused on “Young Filmmakers”, as per the vision of the Hon’ble Minister of Information and Broadcasting, recognizing their potential in shaping the future of creativity. The initiative of the Creative Minds of Tomorrow, platform was enhanced to support 100 young talents from 75 in the previous editions.  About 350 young film students, from various Film Schools across the country, were facilitated by the Ministry to attend IFFI. A new section and award of Best Debut Indian Director has been instituted, to recognize the young filmmaking talent across India. The masterclasses, panel discussions, film market, and film packages have all been curated for the young creators. ‘IFFiesta’ – an entertainment zone has been started to enhance youth participation and engagement.

IFFIESTA

IFFIESTA, in collaboration with Zomato, created a vibrant entertainment zone called “District,” offering a unique blend of food stalls and specially curated performances, including acts by When Chai Met Toast and Asees Kaur. The highlight of the zone was a curated exhibition titled Safarnama, showcasing the rich history of Indian filmmaking. Additionally, a special experience zone by the Central Bureau of Communication provided an immersive experience for attendees, making it a central event attraction. A total of 18,795 visitors including 6000 students enjoyed the IFFIesta.

CELEBRATING CINEMATIC ICONS: THE CENTENARY TRIBUTES AT IFFI 2024

The 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), held in November 2024, was a historical celebration that paid homage to four legendary figures in Indian cinema: Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR), Raj Kapoor, Mohammed Rafi, and Tapan Sinha. Marking the centenary of their remarkable legacies, the festival brought their unparalleled contributions to the forefront through meticulously curated events, stamp releases, screenings, and performances.

RESTORED CLASSICS

The Restored Classics section, presented by the NFDC – National Film Archive of India at IFFI 2024, featured the digital restoration of films undertaken by NFDC-NFAI as part of the National Film Heritage Mission, an initiative by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. This section highlights NFDC-NFAI’s continued efforts in preserving Indian cinema, focusing on its digitization and restoration work. Notable films showcased include:

1. Kaliya Mardan (1919),-silent film by Dada Saheb Phalke with special live sound was loved by the audience.
2. For the Centenaries:
   1. Raj Kapoor’s Awara (1951)
   2. ANR’s Devadasu (1953)
   3. Hum Dono (1961) with songs by Rafi
   4. Harmonium’(1975) by Tapan Sinha
3. Seemabaddha (1971) by Satyajit Ray

CREATIVE MINDS OF TOMORROW

The 2024 edition of IFFI saw an impressive selection of participants, with 1,070 applications received from 35 States and Union Territories (UTs) of India, spanning across 13 categories of filmmaking. A total of 100 participants were chosen, including 71 males and 29 females (a notable increase from 16 female participants in 2023). These participants represented 22 States and UTs, bringing a diverse range of voices and experiences to the program.

During the festival, five short films were produced within 48 hours by teams of 10 participants each. The films included Gullu (Dir: Arshaly Jose) in Hindi, The Window (Dir: Piyush Sharma) in Konkani & English, We Can Hear the Same Music (Dir: Bonita Rajpurohit) in English, Lovefix Subscription (Dir: Mallika Juneja) in English, and Hey Maya (Dir: Suryansh Deo Srivastava) in Hindi/English. These films were judged by a Grand Jury, with the following winners: Best Film – Gullu (Arshaly Jose), First Runner-Up – We Can Hear the Same Music (Bonita Rajpurohit), Best Director – Arshaly Jose (Gullu), Best Script – Adhiraj Bose (Lovefix Subscription), Best Actress – Vishakha Naik (Lovefix Subscription), and Best Actor – Pushpendra Kumar (Gullu).

The Creative Minds participants also took part in a talent camp, resulting in 62 offers being made to emerging filmmakers. The initiative provided valuable exposure and opportunities, further strengthening the platform’s commitment to nurturing new talent in Indian cinema.

Students in action during the 48 hrs film making challenge

MASTERCLASSES

Over 7 days, IFFI hosted 30 Masterclasses, In-Conversations, and Panel Discussions, featuring renowned figures from the world of cinema. Notable participants included Phillip Noyce, John Seal, Ranbir Kapoor, A.R. Rahman, Chris Kirshbaum, Imtiaz Ali, Mani Ratnam, Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Nagarjuna, Farrukh Dhondy, Sivakarthikeyan, Amish Tripathi, and many others.

The session with Mani Ratnam, held on November 22nd, recorded the highest attendance, with 89% occupancy, while Ranbir Kapoor’s session closely followed with 83% occupancy.

A packed auditorium during Mani Ratnam’s Masterclass

STUDENT FILMMAKER PROGRAMME

A total of 345 students participated in the Young Filmmaker Program, including 279 students from 13 renowned film schools such as FTII, SRFTI, SRFTI Arunachal Pradesh, IIMC, and other state government and private institutes. Additionally, 66 students and young filmmakers from the Northeastern states were selected to be part of the program.

A group of students in action during 48-hour Film making Challenge

PIB received nearly 1,000 applications for media accreditation from across the country and accredited over 700 journalists for the coverage of IFFI. A few journalists who expressed interest were offered a one-day course in Film Appreciation in collaboration with FTII.

IFFI 2024 received widespread media coverage across multiple platforms, ensuring extensive visibility for the event. In print media alone, over 500 articles were published in leading national publications, including Times of India, Hindustan Times, Midday, Indian Express, The Hindu, and more, further highlighting the festival’s significance.

On digital platforms, more than 600 online articles were featured on prominent entertainment websites like Bollywood Hungama, Pinkvilla, and business-focused platforms such as Livemint and Economic Times. Additionally, 45 social media influencers were engaged through MyGov to amplify IFFI’s reach, creating a vibrant buzz around the festival across various digital spaces.

The PIB outreach has also facilitated content distribution from official handles for 26 foreign countries, in English and six foreign languages. This was done in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs.

Internationally, IFFI partnered with Variety and Screen International, sending three e-dailies to their global subscribers, further solidifying the festival’s global presence