Shekhar Kapur
As I sit here reflecting on the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), I believe cinema is not just about the length of a film, but the impact it leaves behind. And has IFFI 2024 left an impact! If this year’s festival were a movie, it would have been a blockbuster – filled with new stories, unforgettable performances, and a plot twist or two that left us all wide-eyed.
Cinema has been at the heart of our nation since 1913, when India released its first film. Since then, our audiences have embraced it like no other, making us the largest creators and consumers of films in the world. This year, I asked the festival authorities to celebrate the very people who have made this possible-our audiences. It’s because of their unwavering support that we’ve grown to where we are today.
The festival has once again proven that cinema is a universal language, transcending time, borders, and generations. From record-breaking attendance to the incredible stories told by young filmmakers, IFFI 2024 was like a classic movie-full of vibrance, colour, and unforgettable moments. But unlike most films, the credits won’t roll after this. Instead, we’re all left waiting for the next chapter.
Let’s start with the numbers: 11,000-plus attendees, marking a 12% increase from last year. The Film Bazaar emerged as one of the biggest film markets, with a staggering 142% growth in delegates and 1,876 participants. This meant more collaboration, more partnerships, and more creative minds coming together.
We even expanded our screening venues to six new locations in Goa – because let’s face it, when you have a festival this grand, you need more screens than a multiplex. We also added a Kala Academy temporary theater to give everyone in Goa a front-row seat to the action – and the venues saw people’s faces lit up during the screenings.
IFFI 2024 was all about youth – and not just the kind you can find in the films, but in the filmmakers behind them. With the theme “Young Filmmakers: The Future is Now,” we showcased the best of what’s coming up next in Indian cinema. While watching some of the 66 films by debut filmmakers, it truly echoes, ‘We are witnessing the birth of new legends right here.’
The Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT) program was one of the highlights, bringing 100 young filmmakers together to create and innovate. And as if that wasn’t enough, they were thrown into a 48-hour short film challenge that had the energy of a thriller – fast-paced, high-stakes, and full of excitement. The results? 62 offers from major production houses! That’s not just the future – that’s the future knocking on your door.
There was also an emphasis on new expertise, with masterclasses on cutting-edge technologies like AI. These sessions underscored that the future of storytelling lies in evolving formats and fast-changing tools, but at its core, the art of storytelling remains timeless.
While we were all excited about the young voices of today, IFFI also took a moment to honour the titans of Indian cinema – the ones who created the very language of storytelling we celebrate today. This year, we paid tribute to Raj Kapoor, Mohammed Rafi, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, and Tapan Sinha. Their films are like the great classics we all turn to, the ones that remind us why we fell in love with cinema in the first place.
Special screenings of their timeless classics like Awaara, Devadasu, and Hum Dono had us reliving the magic, while a stunning sand art installation by Sudarshan Pattnaik at Miramar Beach had us all appreciating the legacy of these legends in a new light. Also there was tribute to these legends through the ‘MY STAMP’ to immortalize their contributions. If there’s a stamp that captures the essence of cinema, it’s one with their faces on it.
Each year, IFFI celebrates the cinematic achievements of a focus nation. This year’s Focus Country was Australia, and what a fantastic choice – a choice close to my heart given the incredible Australians I’ve had the honor of working with-Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Heath Ledger, Abbie Cornish, Jill Bilcock.
Along with seven Australian films, we had the privilege of hosting Hugo Weaving and Phillip Noyce. We also had a robust delegation of Australian producers and filmmakers, sparking a new chapter of collaborations between our two film industries. Expect to see some India-Australia co-productions soon – and no, I’m not talking about a Bollywood-Western hybrid (though that would be fun).
A film festival is a celebration, and where better to celebrate than in Goa?
This year’s IFFIESTA wasn’t just a side event; it was a celebration in itself. From the food stalls to live performances by Asees Kaur and PARADOX, it was a carnival that showed what happens when cinema meets culture. And the NIFT fashion show celebrating six decades of Indian cinema – a true tribute to the Indian Cinema. And the ‘Journey of Indian Cinema’ exhibition by the Central Bureau of Communication? 18,000 visitors later, I can safely say that Indian cinema’s legacy is alive and kicking.
As I look back on IFFI 2024, I can confidently say we’ve set a new benchmark for what a film festival can be. I feel immense pride in how far we’ve come. We adopted Western technology to create Raja Harishchandra, India’s first film, and have since built the largest film industry in the world. Our audiences deserve the best, and this year’s IFFI delivered just that-the largest and most dynamic edition yet.
IFFI 2024 was a celebration of the past, present, and future of cinema. We celebrated new voices, honoured the legends, and embraced storytelling in all its forms. This edition of IFFI wasn’t just a festival; it was a celebration of what makes cinema truly magical.
Running a festival of this magnitude is no small feat. My heartfelt thanks go to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Entertainment Society of Goa, the National Film Development Corporation, and others who made this possible.
Thank you to everyone who made this possible, the filmmakers, the delegates, the volunteers, and most importantly, the people of Goa. The people of Goa are the soul of this festival. Their warmth and hospitality make IFFI truly special. IFFI is poised to grow further, with the support of the industry and the people of Goa as its pillars.
And yes, I’ve learned one thing from all this: cinema is like a good plot twist – you never see it coming, but when it hits, it hits hard. Here’s to the magic of storytelling and to the sequel of this incredible journey.
As for me, I’ll be waiting for the sequel, and this time, I promise I’ll get some sleep before it starts.
(The writer is Festival Director, 55th International Film Festival of India 2024)