Panaji: The 56th International Film Festival of India is set to unveil a spectacle that promises to redefine how a festival begins — a grand, immersive Opening Parade. For the first time, IFFI will welcome its audience with a moving celebration where stories glide, music breathes, characters step off the screen, and India reveals itself through rhythm, colour, pride and breathtaking imagination. Scheduled to take place on 20th November at 03.30 PM from the Entertainment Society of Goa office to Kala Academy, this one-of-its-kind parade will transform the streets of Goa into a living canvas of India’s cinematic and cultural brilliance.
The parade will be led by the magnificent state tableaus of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Goa, each presenting a vivid portrait of identity and imagination. Andhra Pradesh brings the charm of Visakhapatnam’s golden shores, the mystic valleys of Araku and the pulsating spirit of Tollywood. Haryana offers a colourful fusion of folklore, theatre, culture and cinematic pride. Goa, the festival’s long-standing home, forms the emotional heart of the procession, celebrating its cosmopolitan warmth and timeless bond with world cinema.
Marching alongside the states are grand cinematic tableaus from India’s leading production houses — each a moving universe of storytelling excellence. The mythic power of Akhanda 2, the emotional depth of Ram Charan’s Peddi, the creative force of Mythri Movie Makers, the iconic legacy of Zee Studios, the global vision of Hombale Films, the Odia heritage of Bindusagar, Ultra Media’s centenary homage to Guru Dutt, and the vibrant storytelling realm of WAVES OTT all converge to showcase the boundless diversity of Indian cinema. Adding a historic dimension is the NFDC 50 Years Tableau, honouring five decades of nurturing filmmakers and fostering cinematic innovation across the nation.
Opening the parade with breathtaking energy is the Central Bureau of Communication’s “Bharat Ek Soor,” a spellbinding folk symphony featuring over a hundred artists from sixteen states. Bhangra meets Garba, Lavani flows into Ghoomar, Bihu breathes beside Chhau and Nati, culminating in a majestic Tricolour formation that embodies India’s unified cultural heartbeat.
Adding charm, nostalgia and delight are India’s beloved animation favourites — Chhota Bheem and Chutki, and Motu Patlu and Bittu Bahanebaaz — stepping off the screen to greet audiences with laughter, warmth and playful spirit.
The Opening Parade of IFFI 2025 is more than an inauguration; it is a cinematic overture and a cultural promise. As Goa prepares for this extraordinary beginning, IFFI invites the world to witness India not just as a nation of stories, but as a nation in motion, moving forward in one unforgettable rhythm.
