Kolkata is set to become a cine lover's paradise once again. The curtains will rise on the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) on November 6, commemorating stories, stars and the universal language of cinema. In the eight days that follow, the city will be filled with screenings, tributes, and international collaborations that remind the world why Kolkata is India's cultural hub.
Accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), KIFF has emerged as one of the largest film festivals in Asia. The festival will showcase 215 films from 39 countries, representing 48 languages this year. It's a world platform where old-world charm of the city blends with the energy of world cinema.
A grand opening with a Bengali classic
The festival will open on November 6 at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium with Ajoy Kar's evergreen 1961 classic Saptapadi. Starring Suchitra Sen, Uttam Kumar, Chhabi Biswas, and Chhaya Debi, the film remains Bengal's most cherished cinematic romance. Its screening is the ideal start for a festival that celebrates nostalgia and discovery equally.
This year, KIFF received 1,827 submissions and selected the best from around the globe. Screenings will take place at 21 cinema halls around the city, such as Nandan, Rabindra Sadan, Sisir Mancha, Nazrul Tirthaand and more.
Competition and recognition of talent
The Competition Section of the festival will include six categories: International Competition (Innovation in Moving Images) and Competition on Indian Language Films. The Royal Bengal Tiger Trophy, Hiralal Sen Memorial Trophy, and the FIPRESCI Award will be rewarded based on the excellence in the various languages and genres of cinema.
Segments such as Asian Select, Bengali Panorama, Indian Short Films, and Indian Documentary Films will bring together those filmmakers who share stories across borders. For most, KIFF remains that space where a small film gets its worldwide audience.
Tributes and special showcases
Every edition of KIFF honours legends who have helped in shaping cinema’s legacy. This year’s Centenary Tributes remember masters such as Ritwik Ghatak, Richard Burton, Sam Peckinpah, Santosh Dutta, Salil Chowdhury, and Raj Khosla.
The Special Tribute section to honour legends like Robert Redford, Claudia Cardinale, David Lynch, Shyam Benegal, Arun Roy, Raja Mitra and Shashi Anand. The festival will also have Anand Math, marking 150 years of Vande Mataram and commemorating Pradeep Kumar’s birth centenary.
Apart from that, this year’s focus is on Poland, bringing 19 Polish films to the city. Alongside, the Unheard India section will present eight films made in lesser-known Indian languages, highlighting the diversity that defines the country’s cinema.
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Beyond the screen
KIFF 2025 will extend beyond screenings with a full lineup of seminars, conversations and masterclasses. The Satyajit Ray Memorial Lecture, Brillante Mendoza's Masterclass, and discussions on topics like 'AI: Future of Cinema?' and 'Beyond Borders: Displacement and Migration' will add to the week's intellectual rhythm.
Exhibitions at Nandan and Gaganendra Shilpa Pradarshashala will honour the visual artistry of legends such as Ritwik Ghatak and Andrzej Pagowski. Evenings at Ektara Mancha will come alive with Sine Adda: Gane Gaane Cinema, a celebration of music, films, and Kolkata's spirit.
The closing ceremony is scheduled for November 13 at Rabindra Sadan, marking the end of a week that will be filled to the brim with narrative, nostalgia, and cultural interaction.
For Kolkata, KIFF is not merely a festival but it's an emotion that comes back every year to tell the city why cinema still holds the power to connect the world.
