Goa is about to turn into the capital of Indian cinema again. The organisers of the 57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) announced the full opening lineup on Friday, and two of the biggest films of the year are right at the centre of it. Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana will open the festival’s special BRICS cinema segment, while Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar has been chosen as the opening film of Indian Panorama.
The nine day festival runs in Goa from November 20 to 28, under the theme “Stories Without Borders”. More than 150 international films from 86 countries will be screened, alongside 76 Indian films in 18 languages. The announcement was made at a press conference in New Delhi on Friday, with festival director Ashutosh Gowariker and National Film Development Corporation managing director Dhiraj Singh laying out the programme.
Ramayana opens the BRICS showcase
Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, will be the opening film of the BRICS segment. The section puts a special focus on cinema from all 11 BRICS member countries, with 21 films in the curated selection.
The IFFI screening comes at the peak of the film’s theatrical run. Released on November 5, Ramayana crossed Rs 1,000 crore in worldwide gross collections within eight days, becoming only the second Bollywood film of 2026 to reach the mark. Its selection as the BRICS opener puts the mythological epic in front of an international festival audience just as it dominates the box office at home.
Dhurandhar leads Indian Panorama
Aditya Dhar’s action thriller Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, will open the feature film section of Indian Panorama, long the festival’s flagship showcase of Indian cinema. Becoming, a film in the Ladakhi language, will open the non-feature section.
Indian Panorama will present 76 films across 18 languages this year, a lineup that runs from mainstream Hindi cinema to regional language work that rarely gets a wide release. The section is traditionally where festival audiences discover the year’s most interesting Indian films, and the choice of a big commercial title as opener underlines how the line between popular and festival cinema keeps blurring.
Opening and closing films
The festival itself will open with Fatherland, a Polish biographical film directed by acclaimed filmmaker Pawel Pawlikowski. It will close with We Are All Strangers, a Singapore film directed by Anthony Chen.
Spain has been named the Country of Honour for this edition, while Russia will participate as the Partner Country. Films will be screened across 13 indoor screens at four locations in Goa, in Panaji, Porvorim, Margao and Ponda, with a combined seating capacity of more than 4,000.
What else is new at IFFI 2026
This edition adds two new sections, Animation and Films About Films, with five films planned in each. The programme also includes masterclasses, filmmaker discussions, debut film competitions and special screenings through the nine days.
For audiences, the draw is the mix: a festival opener from Poland, a closing film from Singapore, a BRICS showcase led by India’s biggest epic of the year, and an Indian Panorama that spans 18 languages. For the two headlining films, the festival slots are a different kind of milestone. Ramayana gets a prestige international platform within weeks of release, and Dhurandhar gets the opening night of the country’s most watched Indian cinema section.
Registrations and the full screening schedule are expected to be released by the organisers in the coming days, ahead of the November 20 opening in Goa.
FAQs
When is IFFI 2026 being held?
The 57th International Film Festival of India runs in Goa from November 20 to 28, 2026.
Which film opens the BRICS segment?
Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, opens the BRICS cinema segment.
Which film opens Indian Panorama?
Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar opens the feature film section, while the Ladakhi film Becoming opens the non-feature section.
Which film opens the festival?
Fatherland, directed by Polish filmmaker Pawel Pawlikowski, is the opening film of IFFI 2026.
How many films will be screened?
More than 150 international films from 86 countries and 76 Indian films in 18 languages are part of this year’s programme.
Goa’s screens light up on November 20, and for nine days the festival will carry Indian cinema to audiences from around the world.
