IFFI 2024 kicks off in Goa,festival to have 19 world premiers

In the luminous presence of much-admired film personalities and passionate cine-enthusiasts, the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was declared open in the scenic coasts of Goa on Wednesday evening. Colourful cultural programmes showcasing cultural synergy and diversity of India enthused all, and made a grand start to nine days of celebrating creativity and cinematic brilliance. The IFFI commenced with the screening of renowned Australian filmmaker Michael Gracey’s feature film ‘Better Man’.In a video message, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said that IFFI has become a significant milestone in the development of the Indian film industry. I & B Minister stated that there is much focus on developing the content creators’ economy, which is vibrant and rapidly growing. "People are coming up with innovative content that showcases India's diverse cultures, cuisines, rich heritage, and gems of Indian literature and languages in interesting and creative ways", he said. India can play a major role in shaping the creators’ economy with the integration of technology and development of a robust curators' ecosystem, he added.

#IFFI has become a very important milestone in the development of film industry in India. We are focused on developing content creator's economy

We have a very vibrant creator's economy where people are coming up with very innovative content. With the addition of technology and… pic.twitter.com/1SqWSiEoKi

— PIB India (@PIB_India) November 20, 2024

On the occasion, Goa CM Dr. Pramod Sawant said that Goa and IFFI are literally synonymous. "When you think of IFFI, you remember Goa, and when you think of Goa, you remember IFFI". Dr. Sawant, on behalf of all Goans, extended a warm welcome all the festival delegates to Goa, said Dr. Sawant.

Following Indian traditions, the film festival was ceremonially inaugurated by watering of a coconut sapling by the Chief Minister of Goa Dr. Pramod Sawant in the presence of dignitaries like Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade, Secretary Information & Broadcasting Sanjay Jaju, Spiritual Guru, Shri Sri Ravi Shankar Festival Director Shekhar Kapur, Chairman CBFC  Prasoon Joshi and Chairman Prasar Bharati Naveneet Kumar Sehgal among others.