A cinematic celebration

IFFI 2024 was like a classic movie—full of vibrance, colour, and unforgettable moments

- SHEKHAR KAPUR

As I sit here reflecting on the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), I believe cinema is not just about the length of a film, but the impact it leaves behind. And has IFFI 2024 left an impact! If this year's festival were a movie, it would have been a blockbuster - filled with new stories, unforgettable performances, and a plot twist or two that left us all wide-eyed.

Cinema has been at the heart of our nation since 1913, when India released its first film. Since then, our audiences have embraced it like no other, making us the largest creators and consumers of films in the world. This year, I asked the festival authorities to celebrate the very people who have made this possible—our audiences. It's because of their unwavering support that we've grown to where we are today.

The festival has once again proven that cinema is a universal language, transcending time, borders, and generations. From record-breaking attendance to the incredible stories told by young filmmakers, IFFI 2024 was like a classic movie—full of vibrance, colour, and unforgettable moments. But unlike most films, the credits won't roll after this. Instead, we're all left waiting for the next chapter.

Let's start with the numbers: 11,000-plus attendees, marking a 12 per cent increase from last year. The Film Bazaar emerged as one of the biggest film markets, with a staggering 142 per cent growth in delegates and 1,876 participants. This meant more collaboration, more partnerships, and more creative minds coming together.

We even expanded our screening venues to six new locations in Goa—because let's face it, when you have a festival this grand, you need more screens than a multiplex. We also added a Kala Academy temporary theater to give everyone in Goa a front-row seat to the action—and the venues saw people's faces lit up during the screenings.