Over three consecutive editions of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), I led the programming of international cinema and helped shape the festival’s curatorial direction into a globally resonant platform. Working across diverse teams, I introduced new curatorial structures, streamlined submission systems, and fostered collaborations with distributors and cultural partners — expanding IFFI’s reach and deepening its artistic scope.

Across these editions, IFFI evolved from a traditional exhibitory model into an intentional curatorial space — one committed to diversity of form, voice, and geography. My focus lay in creating programming frameworks that balanced artistic merit with accessibility, ensuring that films from emerging and non-Eurocentric regions found visibility alongside established auteurs.

IFFI 2024 – Expansion and Resonance

The 2024 edition marked a pivotal moment in redefining IFFI’s international presence. Reaffirming its FIAPF accreditation, the festival deepened its commitment to platforming alternative voices and films from non-Eurocentric regions.

This edition introduced significant curatorial reforms: all official selections required India Premieres, programming expanded to over 200 films, and new partnerships with independent distributors strengthened global outreach. Ecological Cinema explored Anthropocene themes, while Rising Stars / Prima Facie celebrated debut filmmakers shaping the future of world cinema.

Selection protocols were overhauled to emphasize artistic merit, regional equity, and inclusive representation, ensuring a more balanced, globally aware curation. These initiatives collectively positioned IFFI as a dynamic, internationally engaged festival — one where innovation, access, and cultural resonance intersect.

IFFI 2023 – Refinement and Inclusion

The 2023 edition continued to build on the festival’s evolving curatorial identity, refining its editorial and artistic frameworks while strengthening inclusivity and structural precision. The focus shifted toward integrating aesthetic boldness with curatorial clarity, positioning IFFI as a space for diverse and global voices.

FilmFreeway became the sole submission platform, streamlining access for filmmakers worldwide. The new DOCU-MONTAGE segment showcased interventionist documentaries, while INTERGRADE was redefined as a space dedicated to experimental cinema and hybrid film practices. Programming committees underwent sensitization and training processes to ensure more mindful representation of LGBTQ+ narratives and other underrepresented perspectives.

This approach resulted in a more cohesive and globally conscious lineup, reflecting an expanded awareness of form, geography, and intersectional storytelling.

IFFI 2022 – Reframing the Festival

The 2022 edition marked a major curatorial shift, transforming IFFI from a primarily exhibitory event into an intentional platform for artistic and cultural dialogue. The focus was on diversity of form and voice — positioning the festival as a meeting point for established auteurs and emerging filmmakers.

This edition saw the launch of INTERGRADE, a section dedicated to experimental and hybrid filmmaking, along with curated showcases for animation and genre cinema. The festival screened over 200 films, including more than 100 India Premieres and 70 Asia Premieres, drawing a record 3,000 submissions — nearly triple from the previous year.

These initiatives redefined the festival’s engagement with global cinema, fostering critical attention from programmers and audiences alike, and signaling IFFI’s growing reputation as an international hub for innovative and boundary-pushing cinema.

Impact

Between 2022 and 2024, IFFI’s programming framework expanded in scale and intent. Submission numbers tripled, diversity of representation grew significantly, and experimental cinema gained a sustained platform within a state-backed festival structure. The renewed selection protocols encouraged artistic integrity, regional balance, and equitable representation — transforming IFFI into a more globally visible, intellectually engaged, and aesthetically confident festival.

External Links

Explore reports, catalogues and additional information related to IFFI at the following links:

Festival Catalogues: [IFFI 2024], [IFFI 2023], [IFFI 2022] (Archived via Google Drive)

Festival Website: [IFFI-Goa] (Archives: IFFI 2024, 2023)