At the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) this year, the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) has introduced a new segment — Gala Premieres and Special Screenings. As a part of the initiative, some of the most anticipated Indian films and series of the year will be screened at the festival. In addition to this, the festival will also invite cine stars to introduce their films at the festival and interact with fans.

Last year, for the first time ever, IFFI featured screenings and masterclasses by OTT players. Not only were stars from shows on streaming platforms featured prominently at the fest, but cine buffs also saw premieres of major OTT movies. Taking the collaboration forward, this year also, IFFI has invited major OTT players to participate in the film festival.

The fourth season of the Israeli television series Fauda, Neeraj Pandey’s series Khakee: The Bihar Saga, which is set in Bihar and features Karan Tacker, web series Lost, starring Yami Gautam, and Tamil web series Vadhandhi will be screened this year.

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Singh Thakur, said in a statement, “We believe that the 53rd IFFI will be a grand success by enthralling all the festival attendees.” According to IFFI officials, Ajay Devgn will be attending the Drishyam 2 premiere with Shriya Saran, and Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon will be present at the screening of Bhediya. Ravinder Bhakar, MD, NFDC, added, “The Gala Premiere segment is an exclusive event, which is the highlight of IFFI this year. We have a line-up of big stars from the Indian film fraternity who will showcase their films at the event and walk the red carpet.”

Anvitaa Dutt’s Qala, starring Babil Khan and Tripti Dimri, and Pawan Wadeyar’s Kannada film Raymo will be screened at the fest as well. IFFI will also celebrate Satyajit Ray’s works. Ananth Mahadevan’s Busan International Film Festival selection The Storyteller, starring Paresh Rawal and Adil Hussain and based on Satyajit Ray’s short story Golpo Boliye Tarini Khuro, will also be screened.

Interactions – a collection of 12 short films by 12 directors – and Pushan Kriplani’s Goldfish, starring Deepti Naval and Kalki Koechlin, are also a highlight of the Indian premieres section. Filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda’s short film Elephant In The Room (Malayalam), based on a true story on how an entire village in Kerala came together to form an elephant corridor, is a part of the Interactions series.

Special screenings of Pan Nalin’s Chhello Show (The Last Show) and Madhur Bhandarkar’s India Lockdown will also be held at the festival.