Overview
The International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) is one of India's most attended film festivals and arguably the country's most cinephile-driven event. Organized by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy on behalf of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala, IFFK takes place annually in December in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), the capital of Kerala. The 30th edition was held from December 12 to 19, 2025, drawing over 13,000 delegates and approximately 200 filmmakers as guests, with around 15,000 total participants including film crews, officials, sponsors, and media.
IFFK is known for the extraordinary knowledge and passion of its audiences. Delegates queue for hours to see international art films and engage with filmmakers in lengthy, substantive discussions. Kerala has a distinctive film culture rooted in the state's high literacy rate, progressive politics, and tradition of engagement with world cinema. Audiences include government officials, teachers, students, and ordinary citizens who treat cinema as a serious cultural practice.
The festival's International Competition is restricted to films from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, making IFFK one of the few major festivals with a Global South-focused competition. The 30th edition featured 14 films in International Competition, 12 films in Malayalam Cinema Today, 7 films in Indian Cinema Now, over 60 films in World Cinema, and 8 films in Kaleidoscope. Additional sections included Female Focus, Midnight Cinema, Restored Classics, Country Focus (Vietnam, marking the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War), and Retrospective (Syed Akhtar Mirza). The Homage section featured films by Shaji N. Karun and M.T. Vasudevan Nair. Four films by Ritwik Ghatak were screened in honor of his centenary.
Key Sections
- International Competition - 14 feature films (70+ minutes) from Asia, Africa, and Latin America competing for the Suvarna Chakoram (Golden Crow Pheasant)
- Malayalam Cinema Today - up to 14 new Malayalam-language films, of which 6 must be first or second films of their directors; 2 films from this section are recommended for International Competition
- Indian Cinema Now - up to 9 films from Indian regions other than Kerala, in approved Indian languages; 2 films from this section are recommended for International Competition
- World Cinema - 60+ curated international films outside competition
- Kaleidoscope - 8 curated films
- Female Focus - films by or about women
- Midnight Cinema - late-night screening section
- Restored Classics - restored archival prints
- Country Focus - annual focus on a single country (Vietnam in 2025)
- Retrospective - dedicated to a major filmmaker each year
- Homage - screenings honoring recently deceased filmmakers
Submission Details
IFFK accepts feature film submissions (70+ minutes only). Documentaries and short films are not eligible for IFFK and should be submitted to the sister festival IDSFFK instead.
Submissions are made through Eventival, not FilmFreeway. Submission is free of charge. For the 30th edition (December 2025), the key dates were:
- Entry submission period: August 12 to September 14, 2025
- Preview screener deadline: September 14, 2025
- Selected films announced: October 25, 2025
- Screening materials deadline: November 20, 2025
- Festival dates: December 12 to 19, 2025
Eligibility requirements for International Competition:
- Films must be produced or co-produced in an Asian, African, or Latin American country
- The nationality of the director is not considered; only the production country matters
- Films must have been completed or had their first theatrical screening on or after September 1 of the year preceding the festival
- Films must be India premiere
- Films selected for International Competition must not have participated in the competition section of any other international film festival in India
- Indian films (including Malayalam) cannot apply for International Competition directly; 2 films each from Malayalam Cinema Today and Indian Cinema Now are recommended by their respective selection committees for the International Competition
- All films must have English subtitles
- Only online screeners accepted as preview material
- Submission fee: Free
Past Winners
2025 (30th IFFK) Key Winners:
- Suvarna Chakoram (Golden Crow Pheasant, Best Film): Two Seasons, Two Strangers, dir. Sho Miyake (Japan). An introspective drama adapted from manga by Yoshiharu Tsuge, following a scriptwriter's emotional upheavals across summer and winter. The film also won the Golden Leopard at the 2025 Locarno Film Festival. The award carries INR 20,00,000 (approximately $25,000 USD), shared equally between producer and director.
- Rajata Chakoram (Silver Crow Pheasant, Best Director): Carina Piazza and Lucia Bracelis, Before the Body (Argentina)
- Rajata Chakoram (Best Debut Director): Tanushree Das and Saumyananda Sahi, Shadowbox. Also won the K R Mohanan Award for Best Debut Indian Directors.
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Abderrahmane Sissako (Mauritanian filmmaker)
2024 (29th IFFK) Key Winners:
- Suvarna Chakoram (Best Film): Malu, dir. Pedro Freire (Brazil)
- Rajata Chakoram (Best Director): Farshad Hashemi, Me, Maryam, the children and 26 others (Iran)
- Rajata Chakoram (Best Debut Director): Cristobal Leon and Joaquin Cocina, The Hyperboreans (Chile)
- Spirit of Cinema Award: Payal Kapadia, honored for winning the Cannes Grand Prix with All We Imagine As Light
Notable Alumni Films and Where They Ended Up
IFFK has been a significant platform for Global South cinema and Malayalam filmmaking. Several films that screened at IFFK went on to major international recognition:
- All We Imagine As Light (dir. Payal Kapadia, 2024 IFFK Spirit of Cinema Award) - Won the Grand Prix at Cannes 2024, the first Indian film in competition at Cannes in 30 years. Distributed by Janus Films/Sideshow in the U.S., Spirit Media in India. Received Golden Globe nominations for Best Director and Best Foreign Language Film. Shortlisted as France's official Oscar submission for Best International Feature.
- Two Seasons, Two Strangers (dir. Sho Miyake, 2025 IFFK Suvarna Chakoram winner) - Won the Golden Leopard at Locarno 2025. Distributed in the U.S. by Several Futures with an April 2026 theatrical release.
- Malu (dir. Pedro Freire, 2024 IFFK Suvarna Chakoram winner) - Brazilian drama that premiered at Sundance 2024 before winning the top prize at IFFK.
The Spirit of Cinema Award, established at the 26th IFFK, honors fearless women filmmakers who use cinema to fight social injustice. Past recipients include Kurdish director Lisa Calin, Iranian filmmaker Mahnaz Mohammadi, Kenyan director Wanuri Kahiu, and Payal Kapadia. The award carries INR 5,00,000 (approximately $6,400 USD).
Submission Tips Specific to This Festival
IFFK's International Competition is restricted to films from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, making it one of the few major festivals with a Global South-focused competition. The production country matters, not the director's nationality. If your film was produced or co-produced in an eligible country, it qualifies regardless of where the director is from.
The India premiere requirement is strict. Your film must not have screened at any other Indian festival's competition section. If you are targeting IFFK, plan your Indian festival strategy accordingly. Films that have screened at IFFI Goa's competition are not eligible for IFFK's competition.
Indian filmmakers cannot apply directly for the International Competition. Instead, 2 films each from Malayalam Cinema Today and Indian Cinema Now are recommended by their respective selection committees. If you are an Indian filmmaker, your path to the International Competition is through these sections.
The festival is entirely free to submit to, which is unusual for a major international festival. However, the selection is highly competitive given the volume of submissions from across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The 30th edition featured only 14 films in International Competition.
IFFK's audience is its defining characteristic. Delegates queue for hours and engage in lengthy, substantive Q&A sessions. If your film is selected, be prepared for an unusually engaged and knowledgeable audience. The festival hosts Open Forum discussions, In Conversation sessions, and the Aravindan Memorial Lecture, all of which provide platforms for deeper engagement with delegates.
Industry Reputation Notes
IFFK is known primarily as a cinephile festival rather than an industry market. Unlike IFFI Goa, which runs alongside the WAVES Film Bazaar, IFFK does not have a co-production market or industry trade fair. The festival's value lies in its audience and critical discourse rather than in deal-making.
The festival is organized by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy on behalf of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. It is a government-funded event with strong political backing, as evidenced by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's active involvement in the closing ceremony and his public statements on creative freedom.
Compared to IFFI Goa, IFFK has a more passionate and knowledgeable audience but a smaller industry footprint. IFFI Goa offers the Film Bazaar for industry professionals, while IFFK offers deep audience engagement and critical discussion. Compared to the Mumbai Film Festival (MAMI), IFFK has a more international competition scope (Global South focus vs. South Asian focus) and a more politically engaged atmosphere.
The festival has been a strong advocate for creative freedom and freedom of expression. The 30th edition's closing ceremony featured the Chief Minister delivering a firm message on these topics, and the festival has historically programmed films that engage with political and social issues.
What Filmmakers Should Know
IFFK screens films across multiple venues in Thiruvananthapuram including Nishagandhi Auditorium, Tagore Theatre, Kalabhavan, New Theatre, Kairali, Sree, Nila, Ariesplex SL Cinemas, Ajanta, Sree Padmanabha, and Kripa. The festival also hosts Open Forum discussions, In Conversation sessions, Meet the Director events, and the Aravindan Memorial Lecture. Cultural programs are held at Manaveeyam Veedhi, the cultural corridor of the city.
The festival draws over 13,000 delegates and approximately 200 filmmakers as guests. Book accommodation early, as Thiruvananthapuram has limited hotel capacity during the festival. The festival atmosphere is unlike any other in India: audiences are knowledgeable, discussions are substantive, and the festival is treated as a civic event rather than an industry gathering.
Awards / Accreditation
IFFK's awards carry significant cash prizes, all denominated in Indian Rupees:
Official Competition Awards
- Suvarna Chakoram (Golden Crow Pheasant) - Best Film: INR 20,00,000 (approximately $25,000 USD), shared equally between the producer and director, plus memento and certificate
- Rajata Chakoram - Best Director: INR 4,00,000 (approximately $5,000 USD)
- Rajata Chakoram - Best Debut Director: INR 3,00,000 (approximately $3,800 USD), for first-time directors from Asia, Africa, or Latin America
- Technical Excellence (Special Mention): Certificate only
- Performance Award (Special Mention): Certificate only
- Jury Prize: Certificate only
Audience Poll
- Rajata Chakoram and INR 2,00,000 (approximately $2,500 USD), shared between producer and director
Lifetime Achievement Award
- INR 10,00,000 (approximately $12,800 USD) and a memento, instituted in 2009
Spirit of Cinema Award
- INR 5,00,000 (approximately $6,400 USD) with sculpture and certificate, established at the 26th IFFK to honor fearless women filmmakers who use cinema to fight social injustice. Past recipients include Kurdish director Lisa Calin, Iranian filmmaker Mahnaz Mohammadi, Kenyan director Wanuri Kahiu, and Indian director Payal Kapadia.
Independent Jury Awards
- FIPRESCI Award: Best Film in International Competition, and Best Malayalam Film (first or second film of a director) from International Competition and Malayalam Cinema Today
- NETPAC Award: Best Asian Film and Best Malayalam Film from International Competition and Malayalam Cinema Today sections
The General Council of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy may revise cash award amounts annually.
30th IFFK (2025) Key Winners
- Suvarna Chakoram (Best Film): Two Seasons, Two Strangers
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Abderrahmane Sissako (Mauritanian filmmaker)
- The closing ceremony was held at Nishagandhi Auditorium on December 19, 2025, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan delivering a firm message on creative freedom and freedom of expression
Festival History
IFFK was founded in 1996 and has grown into one of India's largest and most culturally significant film festivals. The festival is organized by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, a body established by the Government of Kerala to promote cinematic arts in the state.
The festival reflects Kerala's broader cultural distinctiveness within India. Kerala has a long tradition of progressive political engagement, high literacy, and a population that takes cinema seriously as an art form. This produces a festival atmosphere unlike any other in India: audiences are knowledgeable, discussions are substantive, and the festival is treated as a civic event rather than an industry gathering.
The 30th edition in 2025 included three exhibitions organized under "IFFK Experiencia," chronicling the festival's three-decade history. A national seminar titled "Malayalam Cinema: India's New Cinematic Compass" was held on December 17, 2025, where writer T.D. Ramakrishnan attributed the industry's recent successes to the collective energy of a new generation of Malayalam filmmakers. An open forum on the seventh day brought together contemporary filmmakers including Jeo Baby, Sanju Surendran, and others to discuss the evolving grammar and ambition of Malayalam cinema.
Watch
See Also
For the documentary and short film counterpart to IFFK, see International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK). For festival circuit planning, see Film Festival Strategy. Use the Festival Entry Fee ROI Calculator to evaluate your festival submission strategy.
