International Film Festival of India

The International Film Festival of India (IFFI), founded in 1952,[1][2] is one of the film festivals in Asia. Held annually, currently in the state of Goa, on the western coast of the country, the festival aims at providing a common platform for the cinemas of the world to project the excellence of the film art; contributing to the understanding and appreciation of film cultures of different nations in the context of their social and cultural ethos, and promoting friendship and cooperation among people of the world. The festival is conducted jointly by the National Film Development Corporation of India (under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) and the state Government of Goa.[3]

International Film Festival of India
LocationGoa, India
Founded24 January 1952 (1952-01-24)
Most recent2022
Awards
Hosted byGovernment of Goa
Directorate of Film Festivals
Websiteiffigoa.org

Vision

Ayam nijam paroveti gananā laghuchetasām, Udāracharitānām tu vasudhaiva kutumbakam[4]

(Extract from the Vedic scripture Maha Upanishad, meaning "This is for me and that is for other – is the thinking of a narrow-minded person. For those who are broad-minded, liberals, or noble people, the entire world is one big family.")[4]

History

First IFFI

The 1st edition of IFFI was organized by the Films Division, Government of India, with the patronage of the first Prime Minister of India. Held in Mumbai[2] from 24 January to 1 February 1952, the Festival was subsequently taken to Madras, Delhi, Calcutta and Trivandrum.[5] In all it had about 40 features and 100 short films. In Delhi, the IFFI was inaugurated by Prime Minister Pt Jawaharlal Nehru on 21 February 1952.[6]

The first edition was non-competitive, and had 23 countries including the United States participating with 40 feature films and about a hundred short films. The Indian entries for the festival were Awara (Hindi), Pathala Bhairavi (Telugu), Amar Bhoopali (Marathi) and Babla (Bengali). This was the first International Film Festival held anywhere in Asia. The notable world panorama during the festival were Bicycle Thieves, Miracle in Milan, and Rome, Open City from Italy. Yukiwarisoo (Japan), The Dancing Fleese (UK), The River (US) and The Fall of Berlin (USSR).

Third IFFI

It was for the first time that the Indian Film Industry was exposed to a vast range of outstanding post-war era films. From the 3rd edition in January 1965, IFFI became competitive. It has since then moved to Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala. In 1975 the Filmotsav, non-competitive and to be held in other film-making cities in alternate years, was introduced. Later, Filmotsavs were merged into IFFI. In 2004 the IFFI was moved to Goa from Trivandrum. Since then IFFI has been an annual event and competitive.[7] The venue for the second festival held in 1961 which was also non-competitive was New Delhi. The third edition of the festival was chaired by Satyajit Ray. For the first time the festival became competitive, and was graded 'A' category by the Paris – based Federation International de Producers de Films.[8] With this recognition the festival in India came on par with Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Karlovy Vary, and Moscow International film festivals.[9]

Following this recognition, India adopted, at its fifth festival in 1975, a permanent insignia. This comprises a representation of the peacock, India's national bird, with a permanent motto of the festival 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (The whole world is a family). The same year it was decided to hold a non-competitive festival of festival films (Filmotsav) alternating with IFFI. While the Filmotsavs were organized at major film – producing centres of India, IFFI was held in New Delhi only.[9]

The venue being the same for all festivals, the fourth and fifth festivals were held from 5–18 December 1969 and 30 December 1974-12 January 1975 respectively. From the sixth festival onwards the period, as well as the dates for the festival, were fixed as 3–17 January every alternate year. The sixth festival was held in 1977 and silver peacock for best actor, actress, and director was awarded for the first time. A film market was also set up for the first time by the IMPEC. The Indian Panorama section was instituted from this edition.[9]

Following a decision taken in August 1988 by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that 3 more editions of festivals in future will be interim non-competitive, and all festivals would be called International Film Festival of India (IFFI).[10] The "Filmotsavs" and IFFI 90-91-92 together constituted 23 editions of the festival[11]

Chronology of IFFI and Filmotsav
Edition Year Venue Competitive [8][12][13]
1st 24 January 1952 Mumbai No
2nd 27 October – 2 November 1961 New Delhi No
3rd 8–21 January 1965 New Delhi Yes
4th 5 – 18 December 1969 New Delhi Yes
5th 30 December 1974 – 12 January 1975 New Delhi Yes
Filmotsav 14 November 1975 Kolkata No
Filmotsav 2 – 15 January 1976 Mumbai No
6th 3–16 January 1977 New Delhi Yes
Filmotsav 3 -16 January 1978 Chennai No
7th 3–16 January 1979 New Delhi Yes
Filmotsav 3 -16 January 1980 Bengaluru No
8th 3–16 January 1981 New Delhi Yes
Filmotsav 3 -16 January 1982 Kolkata No
9th 3–16 January 1983 New Delhi Yes
Filmotsav 3 -16 January 1984 Mumbai No
10th 3–16 January 1985 New Delhi Yes
Filmotsav 10–24 January 1986 Hyderabad No
11th 10–24 January 1987 New Delhi Yes
Filmotsav 10–24 January 1988 Thiruvananthapuram No
12th 10–24 January 1989 New Delhi No
IFFI' 90 10–20 January 1990 Kolkata No
IFFI' 91 10–20 January 1991 Chennai No
IFFI' 92 10–20 January 1992 Bengaluru No
24th 10–20 January 1993 New Delhi No
25th 10–20 January 1994 Kolkata No
26th 10–20 January 1995 Mumbai No
27th 10–20 January 1996 New Delhi Yes – Asian Women Directors
28th 10–20 January 1997 Thiruvananthapuram No
29th 10–20 January 1998 New Delhi Yes – Asian Directors
30th 10–20 January 1999 Hyderabad No
31st 10–20 January 2000 New Delhi Yes – Asian Directors
32nd 2001 – Cancelled Cancelled No
33rd 1–10 October 2002 New Delhi Yes – Asian Competition
34th 9 – 19 October 2003 New Delhi Yes – Asian Competition
35th 29 November - 9 December 2004 Goa Yes
36th 24 November - 4 December 2005 Goa Yes
37th 23 November - 3 December 2006 Goa Yes
38th 23 November - 3 December 2007 Goa Yes
39th 22 November - 1 December 2008 Goa Yes
40th 23 November - 3 December 2009 Goa Yes
41st 22 November - 2 December 2010 Goa Yes
42nd 23 - 30 November 2011 Goa Yes
43rd 20 - 30 November 2012 Goa Yes
44th 20 - 30 November 2013 Goa Yes
45th 20 - 30 November 2014 Goa Yes
46th 20 - 30 November 2015 Goa Yes
47th 20 - 28 November 2016 Goa Yes
48th 20 - 28 November 2017 Goa Yes
49th 20 - 28 November 2018 Goa Yes
50th 20 - 28 November 2019 Goa Yes
51st 16 - 24 January 2021 Goa Yes
52nd 20 - 28 November 2021 Goa Yes
53rd 20 - 28 November 2022 Goa Yes
54th 20 - 28 November 2023 Goa Yes

Permanent venue

Since 2004, starting from the 35th edition, the International Film Festival of India, became globally competitive, and moved to its permanent venue Goa, and is being held during the months of November and December of each year.[14] The dates for the festival vary each year and there are no fixed dates.[15]

IFFI Awards

Main Prize - Golden Peacock Award

Silver Peacock Award

Special Award

Miscellany
  • The first IFFI was held in 1952, and American director Frank Capra attended as a part of the US delegation.[16]
  • On the eve of IFFI 2006, journalist and author Mario Cabral e Sa's book Location Goa, highlighting Goa's contribution to the Hindi film world, was released on 21 November 2006.
  • Since 2004, Goa has hosted IFFI every year. This brings in more visitors to the State, and also coincides with the novenas and feast of the 16th-century Basque missionary-saint Francis Xavier.
  • In 2017 edition, IFFI recognized the innovative works of 15 people and companies that had made significant contribution in developing technologies related to media. A special exhibition was held to showcase their work throughout the course of the festival. The recognized personalities included Mithaq Kazimi, Greg Acuna among others.[17]
  • In January 2021, due to Covid-19 pandemic, the 51st edition of IFFI for year 2020 was held as hybrid event, there was physical and virtual screening of 50 films out of 224 films across various categories. In addition many online events were organised.[18] Two Goan films were selected for screening in premium and non-premium sections.[19]
  • The 52nd IFFI opened on 20 November and closed on 28 November 2021 in Goa. Like the 51st edition, this edition was also held in a hybrid format, which combines online and face-to-face participation. In the 2021 festival, on the occasion of the birth centenary of Satyajit Ray, the Directorate of Film Festivals paid tribute to him through a 'Special Retrospective' of 11 specially curated films. Lifetime achievement award, in recognition of the auteur's legacy, was named the 'Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award' this year.[20]

See also

References
  1. M. Mohan Mathews (2001). India, Facts & Figures. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. pp. 134–. ISBN 978-81-207-2285-9. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  2. Gulzar; Govind Nihalani; Saibal Chatterjee (2003). Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema. Popular Prakashan. pp. 98–. ISBN 978-81-7991-066-5. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  3. "Key highlights of the 46th International Film Festival of India". PIB. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  4. "A Festival Showcasing Talent of Lights, Camera and Action! – International Film Festival of India – 2011". Archived from the original on 18 December 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  5. Saverio Giovacchini; Robert Sklar (1 December 2011). Global Neorealism: The Transnational History of a Film Style. Univ. Press of Mississippi. pp. 179–. ISBN 978-1-61703-122-9. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  6. Jawaharlal Nehru (1972). Selected works of Jawaharlal Nehru. Orient Longman. p. 311. ISBN 978-0-19-563745-8. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  7. "International Film Festival Of India 2017 | Goa Film festival | IFFI Awards | Onmanorama". OnManorama. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
  8. "RRTD". rrtd.nic.in. Archived from the original on 2004-11-21. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  9. "One of Asia's First Film Festivals – IFFI over the years". 3 October 2017. Archived from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  10. "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-12-31. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  11. "International Film Festival in India". rrtd.nic.in. Archived from the original on 21 November 2004. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  12. ":: Welcome To IFFI ::". www.iffi.nic.in.
  13. "International Film Festival of India – a Chronology". inbministry.blogspot.in. 14 November 2015.
  14. "rediff.com, Movies: 32nd International Film Festival of India cancelled". www.rediff.com.
  15. "New MoU needed for Goa as permanent venue – Times of India". The Times of India.
  16. Capra, Frank. The Name Above the Title: An Autobiography Vintage Bools, New York, 1985, p. 43
  17. "IFFI 52 – 52nd International Film Festival of India, Goa".
  18. Swati Mathur (15 January 2021). "First hybrid edition of IFFI to go live from January 16; of 224 films, nearly 50 to be available online". Times of India. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  19. Kimberly Colaco (14 January 2021). "Meet these Goan directors whose films have made it to IFFI 2021". Times of India. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  20. "52nd edition of IFFI to start in Goa from November 20". The Hindu. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
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