PANAJI: Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. L. Murugan today inaugurated the Masterclass Series of the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI 2025) at the Kala Academy, Goa.
The inauguration was graced by Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting; Dr. Ajay Naghbhushan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting; Prakash Magdum, Managing Director, National Film Development Corporation; acclaimed filmmaker Muzaffar Ali; and noted film figure Ravi Kottarakara.
Marking a historic first, the inauguration of the Masterclass segment was opened to the general public, reflecting IFFI’s commitment to wider access, community engagement, and fostering a stronger film culture.
The Masterclass Series this year has drawn participants from Australia, Japan, Germany, Canada, and various other countries — reaffirming IFFI’s growing stature as a global platform for collaboration and creative exchange.
In his address, Dr. Murugan highlighted that over 200 films will be screened at IFFI 2025, further strengthening India’s influence on the world cinema stage. He emphasized that the festival aligns with the nation’s vision of Viksit Bharat and contributes to expanding India’s global creative footprint.
He further underlined the remarkable participation of women filmmakers, noting that 50 films directed by women are part of this year’s lineup — a testament to the Government of India’s commitment to Nari Shakti and the empowerment initiatives inspired by the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The IFFI 2025 Masterclass segment will feature a dynamic mix of panel discussions, workshops, roundtables, interview sessions, fireside chats, and interactive conversations. Renowned cinema personalities including Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Anupam Kher, Muzaffar Ali, Shad Ali, Shekhar Kapur, Rajkumar Hirani, Aamir Khan, Vishal Bhardwaj and Suhasini Maniratnam will lead sessions across the festival.
The first Masterclass session was conducted by Muzaffar Ali, setting an insightful and inspiring tone for the series ahead.
In addition to film and storytelling excellence, the Masterclasses will spotlight cutting-edge and future-driven focus areas, featuring sessions on Artificial Intelligence, Sustainability, and advanced technical practices in cinematography, VFX and SFX. Expert-led theatre acting workshops will further enrich the knowledge-sharing platform.
IFFI continues to champion innovation, inclusivity and international cultural dialogue — positioning Indian cinema at the forefront of global creative leadership.
