Yahoo Lifestyle Robbie Williams Film ‘Better Man’ to Open India’s IFFI Fest, Phillip Noyce Set for Lifetime Honor
Michael Gracey’s “Better Man,” a profile of British pop star Robbie Williams, will open the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) with its Asian premiere. The Australian production kicks off the festival’s run from Nov. 20-28 in Goa.
Veteran filmmaker Phillip Noyce (“Clear and Present Danger,” “Salt,” “Rabbit-Proof Fence”) will receive the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at the festival. The Australian director, known for his collaborations with Harrison Ford, Nicole Kidman, and Angelina Jolie, joins IFFI as the festival spotlights Australia as its Country of Focus.
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The competition section features 15 feature films vying for the Golden Peacock award. Indian filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker chairs the international jury, joined by Singaporean writer-director Anthony Chen, British producer Elizabeth Karlsen, Spanish producer Fran Borgia, and Australian editor Jill Bilcock.
The Indian Panorama section will present 25 fiction feature films and 20 documentaries showcasing the country’s linguistic diversity. Randeep Hooda’s “Swatantrya Veer Savarkar” in the Hindi language opens the documentaries segment.
This year’s edition emphasizes young filmmakers under the theme “The Future is Now,” introducing a new Best Indian Debut Director award. The festival has expanded its Creative Minds of Tomorrow initiative to include 100 emerging talents, up from 75 in previous years.
IFFI will screen over 180 international films from 81 countries, including 15 world premieres. The festival adds six new theaters to its venue lineup and introduces “IFFiesta,” an entertainment zone along Goa’s riverfront.
The program includes tributes to Indian cinema figures Raj Kapoor, Mohammed Rafi, Tapan Sinha, and Akkineni Nageswara Rao through restored classic film screenings and exhibitions. Industry veterans including A.R. Rahman, Prasoon Joshi, Shabana Azmi, Mani Ratnam, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Noyce and John Seale will lead masterclasses and panels at the event.
“Only 5% of our population use film, so we have a responsibility to nurture this idea. Theatrical film is becoming less and less important, but we need to keep this idea of theatrical film. It’s something that we need to nurture without actually saying that it’s the only important thing, because storytelling is everything,” said festival director Shekhar Kapur during a curtain raiser press conference in New Delhi.
Running alongside IFFI, Film Bazaar (Nov. 20-24), South Asia’s largest film market, returns for its 18th edition with former Cannes Marche du Film head Jerome Paillard joining as advisor. The market will showcase over 350 film projects and host buyer-seller meets along Goa’s waterfront promenade, with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) partnering to boost industry participation.
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