2023 International Film Festival of India: Everything You Need to Know

From the 20th of November to the 28th of November 2023, all attention in India will be directed to the 2023 International Film Festival of India (IFFI). As announced by the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday 6th November 2023, the schedule of this 54th edition will see over 270 films showcased and over 20 Masterclasses delivered by renowned actors and filmmakers over the eight days in Goa.

Undoubtedly the IFFI is looking to host an unforgettable cinematic extravaganza. Here’s everything you need to know beforehand.

4 Different Venues for the Festival

The International Film Festival of India will have film screenings at 4 different venues within eight days and schedules can be found at the IFFI’s official website. The 4 venues will be:

• INOX Panjim – 4 cinema halls
• INOX Porvorim – 4 cinema halls
• Z Square Samrat Ashok – 2 cinema halls
• Maquinez Palace – 1 cinema hall

5 Days of Celebrating the Cultures of India

Here is what to look forward to each day;

• 22nd November - Celebrating Indian cultures of the East by showcasing films featuring Oriya, Assamese, Bengali, Manipuri and northeastern dialects
• 23rd November - Celebrating Indian cultures of the South specifically the Tamil and Malayalam languages through showcasing films featuring the mother tongues
• 24th November - Celebrating Indian cultures of the North by featuring films in the Punjabi, Rajasthani, Chattisgarhi, Urdu, Dogri and Bhojpuri dialects
• 25th November - Celebrating Indian cultures of the West featuring films in Marathi, Konkani, and Gujarati dialects
• 26th November - Celebrating Indian cultures of the South specifically Telugu and Kannada dialects through showcasing films in the languages.

This massive investment has been fueled by the exponential growth in the Indian entertainment industry. The industry has experienced an average annual growth rate of 20% over the past three years and is expected to reach US$73.6bn by 2027.

7 Restored Indian Classics to Premiere

NFDC-NFAI's restoration project will this year showcase 7 Indian classic films that have been restored damaged celluloid reels under the National Film Heritage Mission. The Indian classics to anticipate are:

• Vidyapati - 1937 Bengali film directed by Debaki Bose
• Shyamchi Aai - 1953 Marathi film directed by P.K. Atre
• Patala Bhairavi - 1951 Telugu film directed by K.V. Reddy
• Bees Saal Baad - 1962 Hindi film directed Biren Nag
• Guide - 1965 Hindi film directed by Vijay Anand
• Haqeeqat - 1964 Hindi film directed by Chetan Anand
• Chorus - 1974 Bengali film directed by Mrinal Sen

9 Categories to Be Awarded

This year the IFFI received an astounding 2926 films from 105 countries for consideration.  This high increase in submissions is a testament to the global appeal the Indian entertainment scene holds and while other forms of entertainment such as online casino games and competitive sports such as cricket are prevalent in the country, Bollywood movies and series still hold the top spot across all ages and genders.

The IFFI 2023 international jury headed by renowned filmmaker Mr Shekhar Kapur will be in charge of selecting the following winners from the 198 shortlisted films:

• Best Film Award – This category will see 3 Indian and 12 International Feature Films compete for the coveted Golden Peacock award and INR 40 lakhs in cash. Additionally, these feature films will have the jury look out for;
  • Best Male Actor Award
  • Best Female Actor Award
  • Best Director Award
  • Special Jury Award 
• Best Debut Feature Film of a Director – This category will have 2 Indian Films and 5 International films to battle it out for the Silver Peacock award as well as a 10 lakh INR cash prize.
• ICFT UNESCO – In this section, 3 Indian Films and 7 International films compete for the Gandhi Medal Award by demonstrating the UNESCO ideals of social development, inter-cultural dialogue, promotion of the culture of peace and the exhibition of support of UN SDGs.
• Indian Film Personality of the Year Award – This honorary award will celebrate an entertainment figure who has uniquely and greatly contributed to the growth and development of Indian cinema.
• Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Cinema – This year this prestigious award will be presented to celebrated Hollywood actor and producer Michael Douglas. Michael’s career in the film industry spans over 50 years and has earned him 2 Oscars and 5 Golden Globe Awards among other numerous accolades.

Beyond being a star in the film industry, Michael has made commendable efforts in the humanitarian world for enhanced global security and peace. He was notably awarded the Danny Kaye Humanitarian Peace Award from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 2014.

Registration and Attendance

To be part of what is expected to be a terrific cinematic experience at the International Film Festival of India, all you have to do is register as a delegate and purchase a ticket by following these three simple steps.

1. Log on to MYIFFI | Registration (iffigoa.org) and fill in the required details to create your account.
2. After registration login to your account with your User ID and Password to create your profile.
3. Once your profile is created you will have access to the festival's schedule and tickets. The ticket prices are as follows:
   • Students – Free entry
   • Other delegates - Rs 1000 +GST

The 2023 International Film Festival of India is expected to be grander than all previous 16 editions bringing together world-class talents in the film industry to share their work, knowledge and expertise.