The second day of the 56th IFFI 2025 witnessed a dynamic blend of global cinematic exchange, emerging talent showcases, high-level diplomatic engagement, and vibrant cultural conversations. A series of key events—including the inauguration of the Masterclass Series, launch of Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT) 2025, the Ambassadors’ Roundtable, a dialogue on cinema, and a star-studded Red Carpet—highlighted IFFI’s growing stature as a premier international festival.
Dr. L. Murugan Inaugurates IFFI 2025 Masterclass Series
Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Dr. L. Murugan inaugurated the Masterclass Series at Kala Academy, Goa, in the presence of senior officials and noted film personalities.
For the first time, the inauguration was opened to the general public, reflecting IFFI’s commitment to wider accessibility. Participants from Australia, Japan, Germany, and Canada have joined the segment.
Red-Carpet Segment Draws Star Power and Audience Engagement
The Red-Carpet segment continued to be a major attraction, with renowned cinema personalities attending Gala Premieres of films at the festival. Designed to connect audiences with filmmakers, the segment showcased World, Asia, and India premieres, adding glamour and vibrancy to the festival atmosphere.
Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant graced the opening Red carpet for Goa Section non-feature film Halad on Friday afternoon.
Anupam Kher, Jackie Shroff,
Manoj Bajpayee filmmaker Muzaffar Ali, Farhan Akhtar were amongst the stars present on the day.
India Highlights Co-Production Strength at IFFI Ambassadors’ Roundtable
IFFI hosted an Ambassadors’ Roundtable with diplomats from partner nations to explore enhanced cooperation in co-production, technology partnerships, and regulatory facilitation.
Secretary, Ministry of I&B, Sanjay Jaju highlighted India’s emergence as a global production hub, while Dr. Murugan underscored co-production as a key pillar of audio-visual collaboration.
He noted the projected growth of India’s media and entertainment sector to USD 31.6 billion in 2025, supported by advancements in VFX, animation, and anti-piracy measures through inter-ministerial coordination.
Conversation on ‘Cinema and Culture: Reflections from Two Eras’ Held at IFFI
A special In-Conversation session featuring Muzaffar Ali and Shaad Ali, moderated by Shaad Ali, offered insights into Indian cinema across generations.
The interaction, preceded by a felicitation by Ravi Kottarakara, presented a rich dialogue on memory, creativity, and evolving artistic practices.
Filmmaker Ravi Kottarakara spoke warmly of the contributions of Muzaffar Ali and Shaad Ali at IFFI.
