The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will be held in Goa from November 20 to 28 and feature over 240 films from 81 countries, including 13 world premieres, five international premieres and 44 Asian premieres, officials said on Friday.

Japan has been named the 'Country of Focus' for 2025 and six curated titles, representing the nation's evolving cinematic language, will be screened at the festival. Spain will serve as the 'Partner Country', while Australia will be the 'Spotlight Country'.

The festival will host three international competitions featuring 32 films from five continents, along with top award-winning titles from world's major film festivals such as South Korean drama No Other Choice, Cannes Palme d'Or winner It Was Just An Accident, Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother which was the Golden Lion winner at Venice, The Message, which won the Silver Bear at Berlin festival and Sentimental Value by acclaimed filmmaker Joachim Trier.

This year's festival received a record 2,314 submissions from 127 countries, including 1098 entries from 18 different languages from India.

“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,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a statement.

The opening film of IFFI 2025 is Brazilian auteur Gabriel Mascaro's The Blue Trail, a sci-fi and fantasy feature following a 75-year-old woman's defiant voyage through the Amazon. The film won the Silver Bear - Grand Jury Prize at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival.

The Gala Premieres segment will feature 18 titles, including 13 world premieres, two Asia premieres, one India premiere, and two special showcase screenings.

Over 160 films will screen in the International Section, including 13 world premieres and 80 award-winning festival titles, as well as 21 Oscar-nominated films. The jury for international competition is headed by filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.

The festival's nine curated sections include Docu-Montage, From the Festivals, Rising Stars, Mission Life, Experimental Films, Restored Classics, Macabre Dreams, UNICEF and Cinema of the World.

The film gala will feature an extensive slate of 21 masterclasses and panel discussions across 10 formats at Kala Academy, bringing together some of the most prominent names in Indian and international cinema.

Participants include Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Anupam Kher, Aamir Khan, Bobby Deol, Ravi Varman, Kushboo Sundar, Suhasini Maniratnam, Christopher Charles Corbould OBE, Pete Draper and Sreekar Prasad.

Sessions will cover topics such as editing and acting in the digital era, theatre and sustainability, as well as AI and VFX technologies. Panels will explore cinema's role in promoting peace and the challenges of modern filmmaking, while 'In Conversation' sessions will host leading artists and technicians.

IFFI 2025 will celebrate centenaries of cinematic legends Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, P Bhanumathi, Bhupen Hazarika and Salil Chowdhury by showcasing restored classics of their work.

The Indian Panorama section will feature 25 feature films, 20 non-feature films and 5 debut features.

Tamil film Amaran, directed by Rajkumar Periyasamy and starring Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi, will open the feature category, while Kakori will open the non-feature section.

The feature film jury is headed by actor Raja Bundela, while Dharam Gulati leads the jury for non-feature category.

The Women in Cinema and Emerging Voices segments will spotlight inclusivity and new perspectives, featuring over 50 films directed by women and an equal number by debut filmmakers.

The Waves Film Bazaar, in its 19th edition, will feature over 300 film projects across Screenwriters Lab, Market Screenings, Viewing Room Library and Co-Production Market.

The co-production market will showcase 22 feature films and 5 documentaries, with total cash grants of USD 20,000 to three winning projects.

The Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT) programme, which saw 799 entries this year, will feature 124 selected participants across 13 filmmaking crafts, including three new ones. The initiative also includes a 48-hour filmmaking challenge in collaboration with ShortsTV.

The 2025 edition of the International Film Festival of India will run from November 20 to 28.