GOA: Fresh off a trip to the Valley, acclaimed filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra used the red carpet at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa to extend a passionate invitation to filmmakers to shoot in picturesque Kashmir.
“I have just come from Kashmir. I was there on holiday. I believe they should all go to Kashmir. I have no doubt in mind about that,” said Chopra — the iconic storyteller behind classics such as Mission Kashmir, Parinda and this year’s celebrated title 12th Fail.
Chopra’s cult romance ‘1942: A Love Story’ is being showcased at IFFI in its newly restored 8K version. The filmmaker said the film also reflects how the nation must collectively respond to tragedies like the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
Speaking to Jammu Links News on the sidelines of the festival, the Srinagar-born director noted:
“I had displayed in ‘Mission Kashmir’ exactly what’s happening in Kashmir today — time has proven me right.”
Chopra, who grew up in J&K’s summer capital, has produced some of Hindi cinema’s biggest successes including the Munna Bhai series, 3 Idiots, PK and Sanju under his banner Vinod Chopra Films.
Restored Classic Returns to the Big Screen
The 8K restoration of 1942: A Love Story, featuring Anil Kapoor, Manisha Koirala, Jackie Shroff and Anupam Kher, includes a 5.1 surround sound remaster. Part of the restoration work was completed at L’Immagine Ritrova, Bologna, Italy — a global leader in film heritage conservation.
IFFI 2025: Scale, Technology & Global Participation
This year’s edition hosts:
🎬 270 films from 81 countries
🌏 Japan as the Country of Focus
🎥 124 new filmmakers showcasing their work
Celebrating the theme ‘Convergence of Creativity and Technology’, IFFI 2025 marks a major first:
- An AI Hackathon for next-gen storytelling
- The largest-ever WAVES Film Bazaar — a hub for collaborations, deals and co-production opportunities
At the Film Bazaar inauguration, IFFI Director — the acclaimed filmmaker of Mr India and Bandit Queen — said the festival is expecting over 1,00,000 visitors, double last year’s footfall.
Veteran actor Anupam Kher also basked in the spotlight as three of his films — Tanvi the Great, The Bengal Files and the Canadian film Calorie — feature in this year’s showcase.
With restored gems, daring new voices, international competitions and creative market opportunities — all set against Goa’s scenic coastline — IFFI 2025 continues to be a dream destination for filmmakers.
The festival runs until November 28, coinciding with 50 years of the National Film Development Corporation of India.
