The icons of Indian cinema will be under one inflatable cinematic roof at the upcoming 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), as it has collaborated with mobile theatre company Picturetime Digiplex to be the ‘official screening partner’ for this year’s edition.
Picturetime—which has redefined cinema accessibility by mounting film festivals in some of the most challenging terrains across India—will be screening a host of classics as well as contemporary Indian blockbusters at IFFI, which begins from November 20 in Goa.
The films will be showcased across two unique inflatable theatres, one stationed at the main venue ( Kala Academy), the other at Sanquelim (CM’s Constituency) along with a mobile open screen travelling across North and South Goa.
With a seating capacity of 120 per screen, the inflatable theatres will showcase movies like Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar, starring Ranbir Kapoor, SS Rajamouli’s global hit RRR, Pa. Ranjith’s latest action adventure Thangalaan, Mani Ratnam’s two part epic Ponniyin Selvan and The Vaccine War among others.
The Indian Panorama/National Film Award section will see the inflatable theatres host the screenings of the National Award winning Malayalam drama Aattam, Bengali biographical drama Aparajito—based on the making of the Satyajit Ray classic Pather Panchali—, Avinash Arun’s Three of Us, actor-filmmaker Rishab Shetty’s Kantara and Adivi Sesh’s Major among others.
The state-of-the-art inflatable screens will also be the exclusive hub for classics like Ray’s Agantuk, Kundan Shah’s Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Dev Anand-Waheeda Rehman’s Guide, Ketan Mehta’s Mirch Masala, Raj Kapoor’s Bobby headlined by Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia and Anup Singh’s Qissa, starring late Irrfan Khan and Tillotama Shome among others.
Sushil Chaudhary, Founder and CEO Picturetime Digiplex, said the team’s idea is to make cinema accessible to the audience, including non delegates at IFFI. Picturetime’s association with IFFI began in 2017 when it organised Bioscope Village and then held People’s Village in the 2018 edition, followed by the children’s film village the next year.
“At Picturetime, we’ve always believed in making the big screen accessible and affordable to everyone and help felicitate filmmakers, who want their films to be screened on the biggest screen possible. This year at IFFI, our two inflatable theatres will not only give delegates an immersive cinematic experience but will also ensure that locals in Goa—beyond the main venues—can engage with world-class cinema through our traveling open-air screen.
“Our mission is to democratize the big-screen experience, and our partnership with National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and Entertainment Society Of Goa (ESG) at this prestigious festival is a significant milestone in that journey. Screening films by legends like Satyajit Ray alongside contemporary hits like RRR and Thangalaan is a celebration of India’s rich cinematic heritage and its vibrant present,” Chaudhary said in a statement.
PictureTime comes to IFFI after partnering with the recently concluded Dharamshala International Film Festival* (at an altitude of 5000 ft), where it screened films like Cannes winner All We Imagine as Light, Dibakar Banerjee’s Tees and Girls Will Be Girls among others.
This, Chaudhary added, is an attempt to bridge the urban-rural divide with “technology and innovation,” giving people in remote areas access to the “big-screen magic they deserve.”
“At IFFI, we’re proud to bring this vision to life once again. For us, cinema is a universal language, and our goal is to ensure no one is left out of its magic,” he said.
Picturetime has also hosted the Himalayan Film Festival in Ladakh (11,562 ft) and the Tribal Film Festival in Arunachal Pradesh, being consistent in bringing cinematic experiences to underserved regions.
The 55th year of IFFI organised by NFDC India and ESG under the aegis of Information and Broadcasting ministry, will take place from 20th to 28th November.
