The 57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will feature Bollywood film Dhurandhar as the opening film of its Indian Panorama feature film section. Meanwhile, the special focus on films from BRICS countries will open with the recently released Indian film Ramayana.
The announcement was made by National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) Managing Director Dhiraj Singh during a press conference. He said the programming committee and juries had selected the films to lead their respective sections. Ladakhi film Becoming will open the Indian Panorama’s non-feature film section.
Indian Panorama at 57th IFFI to Feature 45 Films
The Indian Panorama is one of IFFI’s flagship sections and showcases notable Indian cinema, with a special focus on films outside the mainstream. It highlights regional-language productions and stories from cultures that may otherwise receive limited visibility.
This year’s section will feature 25 feature-length films and 20 non-feature films.
Festival Director Ashutosh Gowarikar also announced the theme for this year’s festival as ‘Stories Without Borders’. Explaining the idea behind the theme, he said that borders are not limited to geographical boundaries but can also exist through habits, languages and perspectives. He added that cinema has the ability to cross these barriers and bring audiences closer through storytelling.
57th IFFI to Run From November 20 to 28
The festival will be held from November 20 to 28. It will open with Fatherland, a 2026 Polish-language biographical film directed by Paweł Pawlikowski, and conclude with the Singaporean film We Are All Strangers.
According to the organisers, IFFI received 1,900 entries from 137 countries for this year’s selection. The festival will showcase 159 international films from 87 countries, along with 76 Indian films in 18 languages.
Spain Named Country of Honour at IFFI 2026
Spain has been selected as the Country of Honour for this year’s festival, with four Spanish films included in the showcase. Russia will participate as the partner country, presenting four films highlighting the diversity and creative range of Russian cinema.
The 57th IFFI will also introduce two new segments to expand its cinematic offerings. The Animation segment will feature five films celebrating creativity and innovation in animated storytelling.
Another new section, Films About Films, will present five titles focusing on the art and craft of filmmaking. The segment has been introduced following suggestions from renowned filmmakers to bring greater attention to the process of making cinema.
FAQs
1. Which film will open the Indian Panorama feature section at the 57th IFFI?
Dhurandhar will open the Indian Panorama feature film section at the 57th International Film Festival of India.
2. Which film will open the BRICS film showcase at IFFI 2026?
The recently released Indian film Ramayana will open the special focus section on films from BRICS countries.
3. When will the 57th IFFI take place?
The 57th edition of IFFI will be held from November 20 to 28.
4. What is the theme of the 57th IFFI?
The theme for this year’s festival is ‘Stories Without Borders’.
5. Which countries are being highlighted at IFFI 2026?
Spain has been named the Country of Honour, while Russia is the partner country for the festival.