52nd edition of International Film Festival of India to start in Goa from today

New Delhi: The 52nd edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Asia's oldest and India's biggest film festival, will start in Goa today.

Founded in 1952, the film festival is held annually, currently in the state of Goa, to celebrate the excellence of world cinema. It will be held from November 20 to November 28 this year.

As per a release from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur, and Chief Minister of Goa, Dr Pramod Sawant will grace the occasion. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Dr L. Murugan will also be present at the opening ceremony.

The festival is conducted jointly by the Directorate of Film Festivals (under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) and the Entertainment Society of Goa, Government of Goa. The festival provides the perfect platform for understanding and appreciating the film cultures of different nations in the context of their social and cultural ethos.

"The festival will start off with a star-studded inaugural ceremony at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Panaji, Goa, with the presence of film personalities like Salman Khan, Ranveer Singh, Ritesh Deshmukh, Genelia Deshmukh, Shraddha Kapoor, amongst others. IFFI this year will showcase over 300 films from across the globe. The celebrated film-maker Karan Johar and television personality Manish Paul will host the event," the release said.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, IFFI this year will be hybrid and festival delegates will have the option to participate and watch films and other events virtually, sitting in the comforts of their homes. IFFI will feature 148 films from about 73 countries in the International Section with about 12 world premieres, about 7 international premieres, 26 Asia premieres and about 64 India premieres.

The festival received 624 films from 95 countries this time, up from 69 countries in the previous edition. "'The King of all the World' (El Rey de Todo El Mundo) directed by Carlos Saura will be the Opening Film of the festival. It will be also the film's International Premiere. 'The Power of the Dog' directed by Jane Campion, Winner of Best Director at Venice Film Festival is chosen as the Mid Fest Film. Grand Prix Award winning movie of Director Asghar Farhadi, A Hero will be the closing film at the Festival," the Ministry said.