54th IFFI to be held in Goa on November 20 opening with British Film Catching dust

The 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa will commence on November 20 with the British film "Catching Dust," and close on November 30 with the American feature "The Featherweight." Michael Douglas, a Hollywood actor, will receive the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award during the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting's eight-day annual festival.

According to Union I&B Minister Anurag Thakur, 32 submissions from 15 OTT platforms in 10 different languages have been chosen for the first-ever best online series award. Fifteen entries are vying for the Golden Peacock, which goes to the best film and carries a Rs 40 lakh cash award (12 International, 3 Indian). Among the Indian films are the Karbi film Mirbeen, the Hindi film Sanaa, and the Kannada film Kantara. Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur will serve as the president of the international jury.

Seven films from various languages that have been restored thanks to the joint efforts of the National Film Development Corporation and the National Film Archive of India will have their global debuts during IFFI, according to authorities. These include the Telugu film "Patala Bhairavi" (1951), the Hindi films "Haqeeqat" (1964) and "Guide" (1965), the Bengali films "Vidyapati" (1937) and "Chorus" (1974), the Marathi film "Shyamchi Aai" (1953), and the Telugu film "Bees Saal Baad" (1962). The portion also includes three foreign restorations.

At the 17th edition of the Film Bazaar, the co-production market event conducted on the fringes of the IFFI, a unique VFX & Tech pavilion will be put up to foster the burgeoning visual effects sector in Indian cinema. This pavilion's stalls will highlight cutting-edge technology and assist filmmakers in experimenting with narrative possibilities.

Twenty films from eleven different nations have been chosen for the Film Bazaar, which takes place from November 20 to 24, at the Marriott Resort in Goa. The films "Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai" and "Shershaah" will be made accessible with integrated audio descriptions for those who are blind or visually challenged. There will be sign language included in the films "83" and "Bhaag Mikha Bhaag" for those who are hard of hearing. According to organisers, there will be the option for numerous language dubbings, including for some Indian Panorama films.