19 Nov 2023  |   05:43pm IST

54th IFFI: Goa To Welcome Global Cinema Extravaganza

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The 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), marking the 20th year of the festival's stint in Goa, is set to commence on November 20 at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium. Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Singh Thakur, will inaugurate the festival, starting with the screening of the opening film, 'Catching Dust.' The film narrates the tale of a wife seeking to leave her criminal husband, thwarted by an unexpected arrival.

Festival Director Prithul Kumar announced that IFFI 2023 received three times more international film submissions than the previous year, with a focus on debut directors and a substantial representation of women directors. The festival will feature 15 films in the International Competition Section, showcasing 198 international films, 13 world premieres, 18 international premieres, 62 Asian premieres, and 89 Indian premieres.

The star-studded opening ceremony will witness performances by Shahid Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Nushratt Bharucha, and Shriya Saran. Hollywood actor-producer Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones, along with Bollywood luminaries like Salman Khan, Vidya Balan, and AR Rahman, are expected to grace the nine-day cinematic extravaganza, culminating in the closing ceremony on November 28, featuring performances by Ayushmann Khurrana and music composer Amit Trivedi. The festival promises diverse film screenings, celebrity appearances, and insightful masterclasses, including a conversation with iconic Indian villains on November 27.