Goa – 2025
TheInternational Film Festival of India (IFFI)has long been a celebration of cinematic diversity, but its2025 edition marks a turning point in global collaboration and cultural dialogue. For the first time in its history, the festival has hostedSouth Korea as the Official Country-in-Focus, in a move that goes beyond mere tribute—it symbolizes the strengthening of creative and diplomatic ties between two of Asia’s most vibrant storytelling nations.
The decision arrives amid the rising global influence of Korean cinema, television, and music, and India’s expanding footprint in regional and international co-productions. At IFFI this year, that convergence wasn’t just evident—it was celebrated.
Spotlight on Korean Excellence
The Korean delegation, led by acclaimed directorPark Chan-wookand actorSong Kang-ho, brought with them:
- A curated package of 10 feature films including Past Lives, Broker, Escape, and the restored version of Memories of Murder
- A live panel on “Cinema After Squid Game”, analyzing the seismic shift in Asia-to-global storytelling
- A collaboration announcement with India’s NFDC to fund three Indo-Korean short films in 2026
Korean cinema was also honored with a dedicatedretrospective on Kim Ki-duk, exploring the philosophical and provocative currents that shaped the country’s arthouse movement.
India’s Role in the Collaboration
IFFI 2025 also saw the unveiling ofIndia-Korea ScriptLab, a year-long cross-border initiative aimed at nurturing co-written screenplays across languages.
The initiative will:
- Select 5 writer duos from each country
- Offer mentorship from directors like Rima Das, Anurag Kashyap, and Bong Joon-ho (remotely)
- Culminate in a showcase during IFFI 2026, with funding prospects from both governments
This is the latest step in India’s growing soft-power diplomacy through film—building on past focus-country programs with France (2022), Spain (2023), and Japan (2024).
A Festival Reimagined
Beyond the Korea spotlight, IFFI 2025 introduced several upgrades:
- A new Virtual Film Market accessible to global buyers and producers
- A section titled “Cinema of Dissent”, featuring films from Iran, Myanmar, and India’s Northeast
- AI-generated screenplay showcases and blockchain-based short film licensing—blending old-school narrative with cutting-edge distribution
The opening film,Vasundhara(India’s Oscar entry), and closing film,Hope’s Echo(South Korea), bookended the festival withspiritual parallels across cultural divides.
Final Word
IFFI 2025 didn’t just screen films.
It curated a vision of what global cinema could become:collaborative, region-rooted, technologically aware, and emotionally bold.
And in hosting South Korea with the respect and reverence of shared purpose, India reminded the world that film is not just entertainment—it’s diplomacy, memory, and movement.
