Overview
The Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF) is an 8-day annual event held in December in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu and the center of Kollywood, India's second-largest film industry by production volume. The 23rd edition runs December 11 to 18, 2025. The 24th edition is scheduled for December 10 to 17, 2026. CIFF is organized by the Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation (ICAF), India's largest and most active private film society, with support from the Government of Tamil Nadu and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
CIFF screens more than 100 international feature films alongside a dedicated Tamil Film Competition and an Indian Panorama section. The festival operates two competitive sections: the Tamil Feature Film Competition, instituted at the 7th CIFF to encourage Tamil filmmakers, and the World Cinema Competition, introduced at the 21st CIFF in 2023. The 21st edition in December 2023 screened 126 films and included films from Vietnam, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Tajikistan, Panama, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and other countries represented for the first time at the festival.
Chennai's Kollywood produces approximately 200 films annually in Tamil. Tamil cinema has global reach through the Tamil diaspora in Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and other countries. CIFF reflects this global Tamil cultural community alongside its international programming. The festival venues include PVR INOX Cinemas (formerly Sathyam Cinemas) and Anna Cinemas in Chennai.
Key Sections
- Tamil Feature Film Competition - 12 Tamil films selected from open submissions, competing for 8 awards. Films are screened for the public and viewed by the jury
- World Cinema Competition - 12 international films selected from open submissions via FilmFreeway, competing for 2 awards and 1 special mention. Introduced at the 21st CIFF in 2023
- Indian Panorama - approximately 12 Indian feature films from across the country's diverse language traditions
- International Section - 100+ international feature films screened non-competitively
- Masterclasses - sessions conducted by film industry professionals, organized in association with local colleges
Submission Details
CIFF accepts open submissions through FilmFreeway and directly through the festival website.
23rd edition (December 2025) deadlines:
- Tamil Feature Film Competition: November 5, 2025
- World Cinema and Indian Panorama: open via FilmFreeway
24th edition (December 2026) deadline:
- November 1, 2026 (per Filmitalia listing)
Tamil Feature Film Competition eligibility:
- Open only to Tamil feature films
- One of the directors or producers must be an Indian national
- The applicant must hold the right to sanction participation
- The film must have been certified by the censor board between October 16, 2024 and October 15, 2025 (for the 23rd edition)
- Dubbed films are not eligible
- Entries must have English subtitles
- Selected films must be submitted in digital format with English subtitles or face disqualification
- Entry must include a copy of the censor certificate
Submission procedure:
- Submit via FilmFreeway or the festival website
- Include completed entry form, screener, censor certificate copy, and two copies of synopsis in Tamil and English
- Entries can be submitted in person, online, or through the FilmFreeway portal
- Contact: Festival Director, CIFF, secretary@chennaifilmfest.com
What Filmmakers Should Know
For Tamil filmmakers, CIFF is the most direct route to international exposure within India. The Tamil Feature Film Competition selects 12 films from all entries received. These 12 films receive public screenings at PVR INOX cinemas alongside the international program, giving them visibility with Chennai's substantial cinema-going audience. The 8 competition awards are decided by a 4-member jury (a chairperson and three members) constituted by the festival.
The World Cinema Competition, introduced in 2023, accepts international submissions through FilmFreeway. In its first year, the section selected 12 films and awarded 2 prizes plus 1 special mention by certificates. This section is less competitive than major A-list festivals, making it accessible for independent filmmakers seeking festival circulation in South Asia.
CIFF does not charge submission fees for the Tamil competition. The festival is non-competitive for its international section, which programs curated selections of international cinema. Filmmakers whose work is selected for the Indian Panorama or International Section receive screening opportunities but no jury prizes.
The festival is supported by the Tamil film fraternity. Actor and filmmaker Suhasini Manirathnam spearheaded the involvement of the Tamil film industry starting in 2009, which gave the festival increased visibility and industry support. The festival also takes student volunteers from local colleges including DG Vaishnav College and Ethiraj College.
Major Awards
Tamil Feature Film Competition (8 awards):
- Best Tamil Feature Film
- Second Best Tamil Feature Film
- Special Jury Award - given to an individual not covered by the above two awards
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Cinematographer
- Best Editor
- Best Audiographer
World Cinema Competition:
- Best Film - jury prize
- Second Best Film
- Special Mention - by certificate
Festival History
ICAF, a registered non-profit organization, started organizing CIFF in 2003. The festival has been held annually since then, with the Government of Tamil Nadu extending its support from 2008. ICAF is also an active film society that screens world cinema monthly and organizes at least two film festivals every month in association with various embassies and consulates in Chennai.
The Tamil Feature Film Competition was instituted at the 7th CIFF to encourage Tamil filmmakers. The active participation of the Tamil film fraternity was initiated by Suhasini Manirathnam in 2009, which gave the festival a significant lift in industry engagement and public profile. The festival has grown from its early editions to screen over 100 international films alongside its competitive sections.
The 21st CIFF in December 2023 marked a significant expansion with the introduction of the World Cinema Competition, the first time the festival invited international entries through FilmFreeway. The 23rd edition in December 2025 continues this expanded format. The festival has been held at PVR INOX Cinemas (formerly Sathyam Cinemas) and Anna Cinemas as its primary venues.
Past Winners
CIFF's Tamil Feature Film Competition has recognized many significant Tamil films:
- 2010 (8th CIFF) - Angadi Theru, directed by Vasanthabalan, won Best Tamil Feature Film (₹1 lakh). Kalavani won Second Best. Prabhu Solomon won Best Director for Mynaa.
- 2015 (13th CIFF) - Kirumi won Best Tamil Feature Film (₹2 lakhs). Radiopetti won Second Best.
- 2018 (16th CIFF) - Pariyerum Perumal, directed by Mari Selvaraj, won Best Tamil Feature Film. 96 won Second Best. Vetrimaaran received a Special Jury Award for Vada Chennai.
- 2021 (18th CIFF) - Endravadhu Oru Naal won Best Tamil Feature Film. Chiyangal won Second Best. Aishwarya Rajesh received a special mention for Ka Pae Ranasingham.
- 12th CIFF - Kuttram Kadithal won Best Tamil Film. Sadhuranga Vettai won Second Best.
- 2025 (23rd CIFF) - Paranthu Po, directed by Ram, won Best Tamil Feature Film. Tourist Family, directed by Abhishan Jeevinth, won Second Best. Sasikumar won Best Actor for Tourist Family. Lijomol Jose won Best Actress for Kaadhal Enbadhu Podhu Udamai. Kaali Venkat won the Special Jury Award for Madras Matinee. In the World Cinema Competition, The Tower of Strength (Obraz), directed by Nikola I Vukcevic, won Best Film. Creating a Man, directed by Murat Ceri, won Second Best. Riverstone, directed by Lalith Rathnayake, won the Special Jury Award.
Notable Alumni Films and Where They Ended Up
Several films that won or screened at CIFF went on to significant commercial and critical success:
- Pariyerum Perumal (2018) won Best Tamil Feature Film at the 16th CIFF. Directed by debutant Mari Selvaraj and produced by Pa. Ranjith's Neelam Productions, the anti-caste drama was acclaimed as one of the best Tamil films of 2018. Mari Selvaraj went on to direct Karnan (2021) starring Dhanush.
- 96 (2018) won Second Best Tamil Feature Film at the 16th CIFF. Directed by C. Prem Kumar and starring Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha, the romantic drama became a commercial hit with an estimated theatrical-distributor share of ₹12 to 14 crore.
- Vada Chennai (2018) received a Special Jury Award at the 16th CIFF. Directed by Vetrimaaran and starring Dhanush, the gangster drama was planned as the first part of a trilogy.
- Angadi Theru (2010) won Best Tamil Feature Film at the 8th CIFF. Directed by Vasanthabalan, the film about child labor in textile shops received critical acclaim for its social realism.
- Kuttram Kadithal won Best Tamil Film at the 12th CIFF before its theatrical release. The film premiered on the last day of the festival.
- Paranthu Po (2025) won Best Tamil Feature Film at the 23rd CIFF. Directed by Ram and starring Shiva, the film premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in February 2025 before its theatrical release on July 4, 2025. It grossed approximately Rs 14 crore at the box office, making it the highest-grossing film of Ram's career. It streamed on JioHotstar from August 5, 2025.
Submission Tips Specific to This Festival
- CIFF does not charge submission fees for the Tamil competition. This makes it accessible for independent Tamil filmmakers.
- Submit via FilmFreeway or the festival website. The World Cinema Competition also accepts submissions through FilmFreeway.
- The Tamil Feature Film Competition requires a censor board certificate. Films must have been certified between specific dates that vary by edition. Check the current year's eligibility window before submitting.
- Dubbed films are not eligible for the Tamil competition. Submit only original Tamil-language films.
- English subtitles are required for all submitted films. Selected films must be submitted in digital format with English subtitles or face disqualification.
- Include a copy of the censor certificate, a completed entry form, a screener, and two copies of synopsis in Tamil and English.
- The World Cinema Competition, introduced in 2023, is less competitive than major A-list festivals. Independent filmmakers seeking festival circulation in South Asia should consider this section.
- The festival takes student volunteers from local colleges. Contact the festival for volunteer opportunities if you are based in Chennai.
Industry Reputation Notes
CIFF is the most significant film festival in Chennai, the center of Kollywood. Tamil cinema produces approximately 200 films annually, making it India's second-largest film industry by production volume. The festival benefits from this deep local industry infrastructure.
The Tamil Feature Film Competition is the festival's highlight. It selects 12 films and gives them public screenings at PVR INOX cinemas alongside the international program. Industry engagement increased after actor and filmmaker Suhasini Manirathnam spearheaded the Tamil film fraternity's involvement in 2009. The Government of Tamil Nadu has supported the festival since 2008.
The World Cinema Competition, introduced in 2023, expanded the festival's international scope. The 22nd edition in 2024 screened 123 films from 50 countries, with Pedro Almodovar's The Room Next Door as the opening film and Sean Baker's Anora as the closing film.
CIFF does not host a film market. Its value lies in audience exposure, critical recognition within Tamil cinema, and networking with the Tamil film industry. For international filmmakers, the World Cinema Competition offers an accessible entry point into the South Asian festival circuit.
Compared to peer festivals, CIFF is more regionally focused than IFFI Goa, which is India's government-backed international festival with a larger budget and broader national scope. Unlike the Mumbai Film Festival (MAMI), which centers on Hindi-language and pan-Indian cinema, CIFF's Tamil competition gives it a distinct identity within South Indian cinema. CIFF's World Cinema Competition, introduced in 2023, is less competitive than major A-list festivals, making it accessible for independent filmmakers.
Watch
See Also
To calculate the return on your festival submission spending, use the Festival ROI Calculator. For South Indian cinema markets, see International Film Markets. For the International Film Festival of India in Goa, see IFFI Goa. For the Hyderabad International Film Festival, see Hyderabad International Film Festival. For festival circuit planning, see Film Festival Strategy.
