IFFI Day 4: A Confluence of Creative Minds and Cinematic Icons
The day opened with the culmination of the 48-hour Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT) challenge, where emerging filmmakers showcased their short films after two days of intensive ideation, collaboration, and production.
Goa, November 24: Day four of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025 unfolded with vibrant creative energy as young filmmakers, seasoned directors, and international artistes came together for a full slate of screenings, conversations, and masterclasses.
The day opened with the culmination of the 48-hour Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT) challenge, where emerging filmmakers showcased their short films after two days of intensive ideation, collaboration, and production. The atmosphere reflected a mix of exhaustion, relief, and exhilaration as participants presented their final works to mentors and festival delegates.
The PIB Media Centre continued to serve as the festival’s dynamic hub, hosting multiple press conferences that brought diverse cinematic voices to the fore. Directors and actors from De Tal Palo (Iván Dariel Ortiz Landrón, José Félix Gómez) and Pike River (Robert Sarkies) shared insights into the emotional and narrative depth of their films. Asian cinema maintained a strong presence with the teams behind Seaside Serendipity (Tomomi Yoshimura) and Tiger (Anshul Chauhan, Kosei Kudo, Mina Moteki) discussing their creative processes and thematic inspirations.
Indian regional cinema and documentary filmmaking also held the spotlight. Sandesh Kadur spoke about his nature documentary Nilgiris – A Shared Wilderness, Paresh Mokashi highlighted the storytelling ethos behind Mukkam Post Bombilwadi, and Debangkar Borgohain engaged with media on his film Sikaar. International filmmakers Christina Theresa Tournatzès (Karla) and Hayakawa Chie (Renoir) came together for a joint interaction, delving into their artistic journeys and stylistic choices.
The highlight of the day was the masterclass titled Giving Up is NOT a Choice!, delivered by actor and speaker Anupam Kher at Kala Academy. His powerful and motivational session resonated strongly with young filmmakers and festival attendees, reinforcing themes of resilience and creative determination.
Closing of 48-hour CMOT Challenge
The official closing ceremony of the 48-hour Creative Minds of Tomorrow challenge at the 56th International Film Festival of India was held today at the Kala Academy in Goa. The event marked the conclusion of this year’s edition of the initiative, which continues to serve as a launchpad for emerging talent, offering mentorship, exposure, and a real-time filmmaking experience within the festival ecosystem.
