The 57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2026 has unveiled its programme, with Dhurandhar and Ramayana set to headline two major sections. Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar will open the Indian Panorama feature-film section, while Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana: Part One will lead the festival’s BRICS cinema showcase. The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond has also reportedly secured a place in the International Competition.
The festival will take place in Goa from November 20 to 28, 2026, under the theme ‘Stories Without Borders’. Its programme will feature more than 150 international films from 86 countries, alongside Indian films representing 18 languages. The announcements were made at the curtain-raiser press conference in Goa on November 13, attended by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, festival director Ashutosh Gowariker and representatives from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
Dhurandhar to Open Indian Panorama at IFFI 2026
Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, has been selected as the opening feature film of the Indian Panorama section. The selection places the Hindi film at the forefront of a showcase celebrating contemporary Indian cinema and its storytelling traditions.
The non-feature film section will open with Becoming, a Ladakhi-language film. Together, the two opening selections represent different cinematic forms and languages within India’s diverse film landscape.
The Indian Panorama section will showcase 76 films across 18 languages. The selection process received 404 feature-film submissions and 358 non-feature submissions. The Best Web Series (OTT) category received 46 eligible entries.
Other notable films included in the Indian Panorama selection are Kantara: A Legend Chapter – 1, The Great Grand Superhero – Aliens Ka Aagman, The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, Ohh My Dog, Krishnavataram Part 1: The Heart and Hanuman Ansh.
Ramayana to Open IFFI’s BRICS Cinema Showcase
Ramayana: Part One, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and starring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi, will open the BRICS cinema segment. The showcase will bring together films representing BRICS countries and partner nations, highlighting different cinematic traditions and cultural perspectives.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting subsequently announced that the BRICS showcase would feature 21 films. The selection explores subjects including identity, freedom, democracy, social inequality, displacement, family and historical struggles.
The Indian entry in this showcase is Article 370, directed by Aditya Dhar. The film, which features a story set against the backdrop of the 2016 Kashmir unrest, previously received three honours at the 72nd National Film Awards.
The BRICS section will give audiences an opportunity to discover films from different countries and explore stories shaped by their respective social and cultural contexts.
The Kerala Story 2 Reportedly Enters International Competition
Another notable development surrounding IFFI 2026 is the reported selection of The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond for the International Competition.
According to the festival-related video referenced in the announcement, the film features among the titles selected for the competition. However, the Ministry’s main programme announcement does not independently list the complete International Competition lineup, so the selection should be treated as reported until the official competition list is published.
The film is also named among the notable Indian Panorama selections, making its reported presence in the International Competition another point of interest surrounding this year’s festival.
Fatherland to Open the Festival; I Matter Is the Mid-Fest Film
While Dhurandhar and Ramayana will lead their respective sections, the overall festival will open with Fatherland, directed by Paweł Pawlikowski.
Set in 1949, the film follows Nobel laureate Thomas Mann and his daughter Erika as they travel through post-war, divided Germany. It explores the political and personal divisions shaping the country during that period.
I Matter, directed by Alina Șerban, has been selected as the Mid-Fest film. The 101-minute production is co-produced by Romania, Germany and Belgium, with dialogues in Romanian and Romani.
The closing film will be We Are All Strangers, directed by Anthony Chen. Representing Singapore, the 157-minute film features Mandarin and English dialogue.
Spain Named Country of Honour, Russia Becomes Partner Country
Spain has been designated the Country of Honour at IFFI 2026. Its showcase will feature four films, including The Bad Son, Trinidad, Bitter Christmas by Pedro Almodóvar and Persegiuiendo a Michael.
Russia will participate as the Partner Country, with a dedicated showcase featuring titles including Four, New Home, Bo Bo and Sidney Lumet’s Birthday.
The festival has also introduced two new sections: Animation and Films About Films. Both will feature five films, expanding the programme’s coverage of different cinematic forms and filmmaking practices.
Nana Patekar to Receive Tribute Through Natsamrat Screening
IFFI 2026 will also pay tribute to late actor Nana Patekar through a screening of his acclaimed Marathi film Natsamrat (2016). The film will be screened outdoors at Miramar Beach, offering festival audiences an opportunity to revisit one of his notable performances.
The festival will additionally celebrate the birth centenaries of filmmakers Shakti Samanta and Raj Khosla, actors Uttam Kumar, Suryakant Mandhare, Prem Nazir and Raj Kumar, and music composers O. P. Nayyar and Ravi.
With its Indian Panorama selection, BRICS showcase, international films and special tributes, the 57th IFFI will bring together a broad range of cinematic voices in Goa from November 20 to 28.
