The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) has unveiled its International Competition slate, featuring 15 feature films competing for the Golden Peacock award and total prize money of INR90 lakh ($101,500).
The competition comprises 12 international titles and three Indian films, with an international jury led by Indian filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. The jury panel includes editor-director Graeme Clifford from Australia, German actor Katharina Schüttler, Sri Lankan filmmaker Chandran Rutnam, and British cinematographer Remi Adefarasin.
The Golden Peacock winner will receive INR40 lakh ($45,115), with additional prizes for best director, best actor (male), best actor (female), and a special jury prize.
Among the international selections, Fatih Akin‘s “Amrum” premiered at Cannes 2025. Co-written by veteran German filmmaker Hark Bohm, the German-Turkish historical drama follows a 12-year-old boy on the North Sea island of Amrum during the final days of World War II.
Simón Mesa Soto’s “A Poet” (Un Poeta), which won the Jury Prize in Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2025, represents Colombia’s entry for the 98th Academy Awards. The tragicomedy centers on aging poet Oscar Restrepo and his mentorship of a talented young girl named Yurlady.
French filmmaker Diane Kurys returns with “C’est Si Bon” (Moi qui t’aimais), which premiered at Cannes 2025. The romance chronicles the final years of the relationship between Simone Signoret and Yves Montand.
“Little Trouble Girls” (Kaj ti je deklica), directed by Urška Djukić, marks a Slovenian debut that premiered at Berlin 2025. The coming-of-age film about an all-girl choir’s retreat is Slovenia’s Oscar entry.
Italian sisters Valentina and Nicole Bertani’s “Mosquitoes” (Le bambine) premiered at Locarno 2025 with a Golden Leopard nomination. Set in 1990s Italy, the offbeat coming-of-age comedy-drama follows three girls navigating adolescence.
Johanna Moder’s Austrian psychological thriller “Mothers Baby” premiered at Berlin 2025, exploring a 40-year-old woman’s struggles with motherhood.
“My Father’s Shadow” by Akinola Davies Jr. became the first Nigerian film selected for Cannes’ official selection, winning Special Mention: Caméra d’Or at Cannes 2025. The autobiographical drama is set during Nigeria’s 1993 elections.
Chi Hayakawa, director of “Plan 75,” returns with “Renoir” (Runowâru), a coming-of-age drama set in 1987 suburban Tokyo about an 11-year-old girl coping with her father’s terminal illness.
Japanese auteur Takashi Miike contributes “Sham” (Detchiage: Satsujin Kyoshi to Yobareta Otoko), a court drama inspired by Masumi Fukuda’s “Fabrication” that premiered at Tribeca 2025.
“Skin of Youth” (Ồn ào tuổi trẻ) by Ash Mayfair won the Special Jury Award at the New York Asian Film Festival 2025. The Vietnamese drama follows a turbulent romance in 1990s Saigon.
Oday Rasheed’s “Songs of Adam,” which premiered at Red Sea 2024, tells a poetic drama set in 1946 Mesopotamia about a boy who stops aging after witnessing his grandfather’s death.
Farida Baqi’s debut feature “The Visual Feminist Manifesto” premiered at Rotterdam 2025, winning the Youth Jury Award. The film traces a young woman’s journey from birth to adulthood in an unnamed Arab city.
The Indian competition entries include Rajkumar Periasamy’s Tamil-language biographical war-action drama “Amaran” (The Immortal), based on “India’s Most Fearless: True Stories of Modern Military Heroes” by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh. The film depicts the 2014 Qazipathri Operation and Major Mukund Varadarajan’s valor.
Thalava KV’s Malayalam-language family drama “Sarkeet” (A Short Trip) follows parents struggling abroad with their ADHD-diagnosed son.
Indian National Film Award-winner Santosh Davakhar’s “Gondhal” (Maharashtrian Ritual) is set during a ritual in rural Maharashtra, following a woman trapped in a loveless marriage who plans an escape with a Gondhali performer.
The 56th International Film Festival of India will take place in Goa from Nov. 20-28.