As France is the spotlight country this year at the IFFI, 15 French films, including 'Les Enfants des Autres' by Rebecca Zlotowski, 'Ouistreham' by Emmanuel Carrere, 'Belle et Sebastien: Nouvelle generation' by Pierre Core, 'La Traversee' by Florence Miailhe, and '16 ans' will be presented as part of the slate.

The in-conversation sessions will be helmed by Parekh, Prasoon Joshi, Aanand L Rai, R Balki and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, among others. There will be a masterclass in screenwriting by V Vijayendra Prasad, on editing by A Sreekar Prasad, and Anupam Kher will take a class in acting. The edition will see the return of masterclass and in-conversation sessions with eminent filmmakers and actors. Birju Maharaj, actors Ramesh Deo and Maheshwari Amma, singer KK, singer Bhupinder Singh, as well as filmmakers Bob Refealson, Ivan Reitman, and actress Monica Vitti. Under the homage section, tributes will be paid to 18 Indian and five international cinema personalities such as melody queen Lata Mangeshkar, singer-composer Bappi Lahiri, Kathak maestro Pt. Sohrab Modi's 'Nausherwan-E-Adil' (1957), Ramesh Maheshwary's 'Nanak Nam Jahaz Hai' (1969), K Vishwanath's 1980 Telugu movie 'Sankarabharnam' and two Satyajit Ray classics - 'Shatranj Ke Khiladi' (1977) and 'Ganashatru' (1989) are part of this line-up. Films from the NFAI will be showcased by the NFDC in the 'Indian Restored Classics' section. Mercedes Bryce Morgan's 'Fixation' was announced as the mid-fest film. Austria's 'Alma and Oskar' will open the annual festival while Polish movie 'The Perfect Number' will close the IFFI. 'The Film Bazaar would be substantially changed as for the first time pavilion from several countries, states, and film organisations would be set up on a very beautiful promenade along the sea in Panaji,' Chandra said. Film Bazaar, dedicated to discovering, supporting and showcasing South Asian content, has gone under a complete overhaul. This time it will be held in a physical format but keeping in mind the interests of those who still have problems, selected film screenings, masterclasses, and talks will be made available virtually,' Chandra said. 'Many people from other countries could not participate in the last two IFFIs. According to Information and Broadcasting Secretary Apurva Chandra, the 53rd edition of the IFFI is important as it is the first chapter to be organised in-person 'after the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic'.

Gold fish movie maker