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.