TEHRAN – The 56th Indian International Film Festival – IFFI 2025 concluded in Goa on Friday, celebrating a diverse range of outstanding film productions from around the world.
One of the highlights of the nine-day festival was the joint award for Best Debut Feature Film Director, shared by Hessam Faramand, the Iranian director of debut feature My Daughter’s Hair, and Tonis Pir, the Estonian director of Frank.
The drama, also known as “Raha,” follows a family struggling in an unstable economy. Tohid, his wife and children lead an average life. Until a very simple event shattered their life story.
Tohid buys a used laptop with the money he earns from selling his daughter’s hair, which brings him temporary joy. However, a conflict soon arises with a wealthy family over the true ownership of the laptop. As tensions rise, Tohid is faced with a harsh reality that will forever change his life and the future of his family, forcing him to fight for what is truly important.
This 2025 film delves into the hidden struggles of everyday people. Inspired by real-life experiences, the director has sought to create authentic characters who navigate a world where justice is uncertain and choices shape destiny. The film combines poetic visuals and social realism to deliver a story that resonates across borders.
The cast includes Shahab Hosseini, Ghazal Shakeri, Zoha Esmailifal, Arman Mirzee, Hadi Eftekharzadeh, Mohammad Reza Samian, and Mani Mehrpur.
Additionally, the prestigious Golden Peacock Award for Best Picture went to Ash Mayfair’s Vietnam’s “Skin of Youth”, the Silver Peacock Award for Best Actor went to Ubaymah Rios for “The Poet”, and Zara Sofija Ostan won the Best Actress Award.
Indian director Santosh Dawakare won the Silver Peacock Award for Best Director for his film “Gondal,” and the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal for his Norwegian film “Safe House,” a convincing depiction of human morality and conflict. The special jury award went to Akinola Davis Jr. for “My Father’s Shadow.”
In the Indian Panorama category, 25 feature films, 20 non-feature films and five debut films showcased India’s rich cinematic landscape. Karan Singh Tyagi won the Best Debut Director award for ‘Kesari Chapter 2’. Additionally, IFFI 2025 introduced the OTT category for the first time, with ‘Bandish Bandits’ season 2 winning the Best Web Series award.
The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is South Asia’s premier film event and the only film festival in the region to be accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) in the competitive feature film category at the 44th International Film Festival. Founded in 1952, IFFI has a rich history of presenting great films from around the world. Its mission is to serve as a unique platform for aspiring filmmakers, directors and industry professionals to access and celebrate outstanding international cinema.
IFFI’s International Film Section offers a wide selection of culturally rich and aesthetically appealing films from around the world. The festival continues to maintain its strong reputation by passionately promoting the art of filmmaking through screenings of internationally acclaimed films, carefully selected and shortlisted by prominent members of the film industry.
SAB/