Fifteen Films Announced for International Competition at 57th IFFI

The 57th International Film Festival of India has unveiled the fifteen films that will compete for top honors in its International Competition section. The festival is scheduled to take place in Goa from November 20 to 28, 2026. The lineup consists of twelve international titles and three productions from India, representing a diverse mix of genres and origins.

Among the Indian entries is Rishab Shetty’s “Kantara: A Legend, Chapter 1.” This film serves as a follow-up to “Kantara,” which previously competed in the same section at the 2023 edition of the festival. Another Indian title is “The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond,” directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh for his feature debut. The project was produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and acts as a sequel to the 2023 release “The Kerala Story.”

The third Indian film in the competition is “Paro. The Untold Story of Bride Slavery,” directed by Gajendra Ahire. This India-U.S. production is both produced by and stars Trupti Bhoir. The narrative centers on a woman who is sold into marriage, exploring themes of exploitation and identity.

Several international selections have already premiered at major global festivals. “In My Father’s Room,” the directing debut of Japanese novelist Maha Harada, competed at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. Miroslav Terzić’s Serbian film “3 Weeks After” was in the running for the Crystal Globe at Karlovy Vary. Additionally, Meritxell Colell Aparicio’s “Far From the Trees” debuted in the main competition at Locarno, while the Argentine duo Lorenzo Ferro and Lucas A. Vignale presented their debut “The River Train” in the Perspectives strand at the Berlinale.

Suzanne Andrews Correa’s “The Huntress,” a production from Mexico and the U.S., premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Other notable international contenders include Daniel Monzón’s “Pray for Us” from Spain and France, and Manuela Martelli’s “The Meltdown,” a co-production involving Chile, the U.S., Spain, and Mexico. The list also features Narghiza Dotieva’s “Skylark” from Kyrgyzstan, Mees Peijnenburg’s “A Family” from the Netherlands and Belgium, and Tiago Guedes’ “Aquí,” a collaboration between Portugal and France.

Lê Bảo’s “Hearing” stands out for its extensive international collaboration, having been produced across nine territories including Vietnam, Singapore, Norway, France, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Taiwan. Volker Schlöndorff’s “Visitation” also joins the competition, adding a significant German voice to the slate.

The jury for the International Competition will be led by Indian director and producer Ashutosh Gowariker, known for films such as “Raanjhanaa,” “Tanu Weds Manu,” and “Atrangi Re.” Through his company Colour Yellow, he has supported projects like the horror film “Tumbbad” and presented “Newton” as India’s official entry for the 90th Academy Awards.

Joining Gowariker on the panel is Argentine director and screenwriter Sol Berruezo Pichon-Riviere, who is based in Iceland. Her debut feature “Mamá, mamá, mamá” received a special mention at the 2020 Berlinale, where she was the youngest director in the Generation Kplus competition. Her second feature, “Nuestros días más felices,” premiered at the Venice Film Festival with support from the Biennale College Cinema.

Thai filmmaker Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke is also part of the jury. He won the grand prize at Cannes Critics’ Week in 2025 for his debut feature “A Useful Ghost.” His short film “The Bovine Comedy” recently won the Pardino d’Oro at Locarno. The panel is completed by Colombian sound designer María Alejandra Rojas, who works from Mexico through her company Sonnet. Rojas has contributed to films such as “Heil Jupiter!” and “The Blue Trail,” and her sound art has been exhibited at MoMA and the Venice Biennale.

Romanian writer, director, and producer Bogdan Mureșanu rounds out the jury. His feature “The New Year That Never Came” has received 23 international awards, including the best film prize in Venice’s Horizons section and the Fipresci prize. The film is also a former winner at IFFI, having received the Silver Peacock for best direction in a previous year.