IFFI 2025 Closes With Rajinikanth, Tribute to Dharmendra, and a Record-Breaking Year of Screenings

The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) draws to a close today after an eight-day celebration of world cinema, star-studded tributes and a slate that spanned over 240 films from 81 countries. The closing ceremony, attended by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju, and festival chairman Shekhar Kapur, will honour Superstar Rajinikanth marking five decades of his career in the industry.

This year’s edition unfolded across a series of major moments: a special tribute screening of Baashha (1995) to celebrate Rajinikanth, and a festival-closing honour for Dharmendra. The ceremony also opened with Telugu star Nandamuri Balakrishna's felicitation for completing 50 years in cinema.

IFFI’s craft-centric programming was a festival highlight, and The Hollywood Reporter India tracked several of its most illuminating sessions. We attended the ‘Luminary Icons’ workshop with veterans Khushboo Sundar and Suhasini Maniratnam, where the two actors broke down technique, discipline and the interior rigour behind lasting screen performances. Our on-ground coverage also included short takes on three of the festival’s most talked-about titles — Father Mother Sister Brother, It Was Just an Accident and No Other Choice — each offering distinct interpretations of form, tone and political urgency.

Across our social platforms, we further chronicled a packed Vidhu Vinod Chopra masterclass, in which the filmmaker distilled decades of craft into characteristically sharp, unvarnished insights, as well as an expansive session on cinematic and culture by Muzaffar Ali, moderated by Shaad Ali.

Other notable masterclasses included that of filmmaker Shekhar Kapur where he spoke about the rapidly evolving capabilities of AI technology, sharing a humorous anecdote about how his cook used AI to whip up a screenplay for # Mr India 2, prompting laughter and a flurry of conversations about creativity in the age of machines.

Among the world premieres, Gabriel Mascaro’s The Blue Trail drew early attention for its atmospheric craft and political texture. It was the opening film.

Meanwhile, the business engine of the festival — the newly christened WAVES Film Bazaar — opened at the Marriott Resort in Panjim with a renewed identity and expanded footprint. Formerly known simply as the Film Bazaar, South Asia’s largest film market now ran from November 20 to 24, featuring over 300 film projects across curated sections including the Screenwriters’ Lab, Viewing Room, Market Screenings and Co-Production Market.

A standout moment at the opening ceremony came from Jaewon Kim — a member of the National Assembly of South Korea and former K-pop singer — who delivered a stirring rendition of “Vande Mataram” to commemorate the 150th anniversary of India’s national song, earning a sustained standing ovation.

One of IFFI’s most talked-about additions arrived courtesy of NFDC, ESG and mobile digital cinema company PictureTime Digiplex, that installed a state-of-the-art inflatable theatre at the Kala Academy. The pop-up cinema — fully equipped with digital projection and 5.1 sound — screened titles across Inspirational Films, Indian Panorama Classics, Nostalgia, and Children’s Cinema. Beyond the novelty, the inflatable theatre highlights a larger mission: bringing high-quality theatrical exhibition to regions with little to no permanent infrastructure.

With its blend of global programming, industry tributes, craft workshops and ambitious exhibition innovations, IFFI 2025 managed to feel both rooted in tradition and eager for reinvention. As the festival closes tonight, its legacy seems clear: a milestone year defined by big-screen celebration, cultural memory, and an ever-widening idea of who cinema is for — and who it reaches next.