Chennai, Nov 7 (NationPress) The iconic Tamil film actor Rajinikanth, celebrated for his captivating performances over the past fifty years, is set to receive a prestigious honor during the closing ceremony of the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), taking place from November 20 to 28 in Goa this year.

He will be recognized for reaching the remarkable milestone of 50 years in cinema.

This year's IFFI will also commemorate significant anniversaries and pay tribute to legendary filmmakers such as Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, P. Bhanumathi, Bhupen Hazarika, and Salil Chowdhury by showcasing their renowned works.

With over 240 films from 81 countries featured, the festival promises excitement, including 13 world premieres, 4 international premieres, and 46 Asian premieres. This year, IFFI achieved a record of 2,314 submissions from 127 countries, highlighting its growing stature in the international film circuit.

The Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, expressed, “IFFI 2025 is a pivotal event that champions inclusivity and diversity, representing voices from around the globe while showcasing the rich heritage of Indian regional cinema. With programs aimed at emerging filmmakers and the art of digital storytelling, IFFI is fostering new talent and celebrating filmmaking's evolution in the digital era.”

The festival will kick off with the Opening Film, 'The Blue Trail', directed by Brazilian filmmaker Gabriel Mascaro. This sci-fi fantasy feature tells the story of a 75-year-old woman's courageous journey through the Amazon, serving as a quiet testament to freedom, dignity, and the audacity to dream. The film won the Silver Bear, Grand Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival 2025.

Japan has been designated as the Country of Focus for IFFI 2025.

Additionally, Rajkumar Periasamy's 'Amaran' will serve as the Opening Film for the Indian Panorama in Feature, while 'Kakori' will kick off the non-feature sections.

The Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT) initiative has expanded, increasing the number of selected participants from 75 to 124 across 13 filmmaking disciplines, introducing three new crafts this year. This program includes a 48-hour filmmaking challenge in partnership with ShortsTV.

Masterclasses will be conducted by industry veterans such as Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Anupam Kher, Christopher Charles Corbould, Aamir Khan, Ravi Varman, Kushboo Sundar, Bobby Deol, Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Pete Draper, and Sreekar Prasad at this year's festival.

Festival-goers can look forward to screenings of acclaimed international award winners and festival favorites, including celebrated films that have triumphed at Cannes, Berlinale, Locarno, and Venice. Notable titles include 'It Was Just An Accident' (Palme d’Or, Cannes), 'Father Mother Sister Brother' (Golden Lion, Venice), 'Dreams' (sex Love) (Golden Bear, Berlin), 'Sirât' (Grand Jury Prize, Cannes), 'The Message' (Silver Bear, Jury Prize, Berlin), 'No Other Choice' (People’s Choice Award, TIFF), 'Gloaming in Luomu' (Best Film, Busan), and 'Fiume o Morte!' (Tiger Award, IFFR).