BREAKING: Dhurandhar to OPEN Indian Panorama at 57th IFFI Goa 2026 while Ramayana to open BRICS segment; The Kerala Story 2 enters PRESTIGIOUS International Competition
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
The Curtain Raiser Press Conference of the 57th International Movie Festival of India (IFFI) 2026, held at Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon, Goa, on November 13, was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Goa, Dr Pramod Sawant, who unveiled the festival’s expansive programme celebrating Indian and international cinema. Expressing pride in Goa’s association with IFFI, he described the festival as an integral part of the state’s cultural identity and calendar. He also highlighted the state government’s preparations to welcome the global movie fraternity, with arrangements for screening venues, transport, hospitality and public facilities.
Adding to this, The Curtain Raiser Press event was also attended by M Delilah M. Lobo, Vice Chairperson, Entertainment Society of Goa, Chanchal Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, Krishna Kumar, Chairperson, NFDC, and Ashutosh Gowariker, Festival Director, IFFI 2026, Prabhat, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; Madhur Bhandarkar, Chairperson, Feature Movie Jury; Himanshu Shekhar Khatua, Chairperson, Non-Feature Movie Jury; Deepak Mandekar, CEO, Entertainment Society of Goa; and Dheeraj Singh, Managing Director, NFDC, & Smita Vats Sharma, DG West Zone PIB.
Meanwhile, The opening movie, Fatherland , directed by Paweł Pawlikowski, follows Nobel laureate Thomas Mann and his daughter Erika as they travel through post-war, divided Germany in 1949, exploring the political and personal divisions of the time. The movie received the Best Director Award at the 2026 Cannes Movie Festival and was also nominated for the Sydney Movie Prize 2026.
Notably, The 57th International Movie Festival of India (IFFI) 2026 will showcase I Matter , directed by Alina Șerban, as its Mid-Fest Movie. A 101-minute movie co-produced by Romania, Germany and Belgium, it features dialogues in Romanian and Romani, bringing a diverse European cinematic perspective to the festival.
As per the latest buzz, The Gala Premieres segment will feature 14 screenings, with participation from 87 countries showcasing a curated selection of films and providing audiences an opportunity to experience diverse cinematic stories and acclaimed filmmaking.
In further updates, The 57th International Movie Festival of India (IFFI) highlights Spain as the Country of Honour, showcasing four Spanish films: The Bad Son , directed by Jaime Lorente; Trinidad; Bitter Christmas , directed by Pedro Almodóvar; and Persegiuiendo a Michael , directed by Jaime Machia. The selection celebrates Spanish cinema and its diverse storytelling, bringing Spanish filmmakers and cinematic perspectives to the international platform of IFFI.
On top of that, The 57th International Movie Festival of India (IFFI) presents Russia as the Partner Country, with a special showcase of four films representing the diversity and creative richness of Russian cinema. The featured films include Four ( Четыре ), New Home, Bo Bo , directed by Anastasia Kuzina, and Sidney Lumet’s Birthday . The showcase provides Indian and international audiences with an opportunity to discover contemporary Russian filmmaking, engage with its evolving cinematic landscape and appreciate the cultural and artistic exchange between India and Russia through the medium of cinema.
The 57th International Movie Festival of India (IFFI) 2026 has introduced two new segments this year to broaden its cinematic offerings and celebrate diverse forms of storytelling. The first segment, Animation, will feature five outstanding films, showcasing creativity and innovation in animated cinema. The second segment, Films About Films, will also present five films and has been introduced in response to suggestions from renowned filmmakers, with the objective of bringing the art and craft of filmmaking to the forefront.
Source: Bollywood Hungama