Actors Shahid Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Pankaj Tripathi, Nushratt Bharucha and singers Shreya Ghoshal and Sukhwinder Singh are set to headline the opening ceremony of the 54thedition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
The festival will take place in Goa from November 20 to 28, where over 250 films will be showcased at the Shamaprasad Indoor stadium in Panaji. Aparshakti Khurrana and Karishma Tanna will host the ceremony. Other prominent personalities are also expected to be present, including Sunny Deol, Vijay Sethupathi, Sara Ali Khan, Karan Johar, among others.
At the 54th IFFI, events such as unveiling the first look of Sara’s drama thriller Ae Watan Mere Watan, introducing Pankaj Tripathi’s crime thriller Kadak Singh, are set to take place. While Ae Watan Mere Watan chronicles the journey of Usha Mehta who during the 1942 Quit India Movement started an underground radio station and broadcast uncensored news, Kadak Singh is about AK Shrivastav, an officer in the Department of Financial Crimes who while battling retrograde amnesia exposes the truth behind a Chit Fund Scam.
Besides these events, Vijay Sethupathi will be unveiling the trailer of his black comedy Gandhi Talks, a silent film in a present-day setting revolving around four characters, played by Vijay Sethupathi, Arvind Swami, Siddharth Jadhav and Aditi Rao Hydari.
Prithul Kumar, Festival Director- IFFI (Jt. Secretary (Films) & MD/NFDC), said in a statement, “This IFFI will have 13 World Premieres, 18 International Premieres, 62 Asia Premieres and 89 India Premieres. These films, which transcend all borders and cultures, represent the best of Indian and world cinema."
“This carries forward the compelling obligation to continue the legacy of showcasing cinematic excellence at the 54th IFFI. The Festival Team is working tirelessly to make sure that the participants enjoy the outstanding films, engage in thought provoking discussions and leave with memories that will last a lifetime,” he added.
The closing ceremony will be headlined by Ayushmann Khurrana and music composer Amit Trivedi.