The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) concluded its nine-day celebration of global cinema with a powerful showcase of storytelling, talent and cultural exchange. This year, the festival’s top honour—the Golden Peacock for Best Feature Film—was awarded to Vietnamese filmmaker Ash Mayfair for Skin of Youth, a moving and layered drama that captivated the international jury. The film follows the emotionally charged romance between San, a transgender sex worker seeking gender-affirming surgery, and Nam, an underground cage fighter struggling to support his young son. The narrative’s sensitivity, courage and nuance earned widespread acclaim, highlighting IFFI’s commitment to championing bold and inclusive cinema.
Indian talent also had a strong presence among the winners. Marathi filmmaker Santosh Davakahar won Best Director for his gripping thriller Gondhal, a film praised for its taut storytelling, atmospheric tension and meticulous direction. The Best Debut Director award went to Karan Singh Tyagi for Kesari 2, marking a significant moment for the Indian film industry as it continues to nurture emerging voices with fresh cinematic perspectives.
Acting honours at IFFI 2025 celebrated performances that demonstrated emotional depth and transformative artistry. Ubeimar Rios won the Silver Peacock for Best Actor (Male) for his powerful portrayal in the Colombian film A Poet (Un Poeta), directed by Simon Mesa Soto. His performance was noted for its restraint, poetic intensity and raw authenticity. The Silver Peacock for Best Actor (Female) was awarded to Jara Sofija Ostan for her riveting role in the Slovenian film Little Trouble Girls. Both acting awards came with a cash prize of ₹10 lakh each, reflecting the festival’s recognition of global artistic excellence.
A standout award of the evening was the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal, given to the Norwegian film Safe House, directed by Eirik Svensson. The film, set over 15 tense hours in a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Bangui during the 2013 Central African Republic civil war, is a gripping and compassionate portrayal of medical workers navigating life-and-death decisions in a war zone. Through its real-time narrative, Safe House explores the complexities of courage, ethics and humanity. The award was received on behalf of the director by Manouj Kadaamh, representative of ICFT-UNESCO Paris, and presented by Prakash Magdum, Managing Director of NFDC.
In the rapidly evolving world of streaming, IFFI’s recognition of digital storytelling continued with Bandish Bandits Season 2 winning Best Web Series (OTT). Directed by Anand Tiwari and created by Amritpal Singh Bindra and Tiwari, the series was unanimously chosen by the jury for its compelling effort to make art and classical music more accessible. Its win reinforces the growing impact of Indian web content, which has been gaining international attention for its innovation and emotional richness.
The festival’s closing moments at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa were marked by celebration, reflection and a tribute to Indian cinema icon Rajinikanth, who was honoured for completing 50 remarkable years in the industry. IFFI 2025 once again proved to be a vibrant platform where filmmakers, actors, critics and audiences came together to celebrate storytelling that transcends borders, cultures and genres.
