IFFI is emerging as a platform for tomorrow’s master filmmakers

This year’s IFFI honours legends, both past and future, as embodied by our nation’s young people. Secretary Sanjay Jaju, I&B

INN/New Delhi, @Infodeaofficial

The scene at Maquinez Palace today during the Closing Ceremony of Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT), organised as part of the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), was one of youthful energy, an electrifying atmosphere, and the intensity of 48 long but wonderful hours.

One of the best resources for finding and developing India’s most talented young filmmakers is CMOT. In contrast to the 75 participants and 10 crafts included in prior editions, the program expanded to accommodate 100 young talents spanning 13 filmmaking disciplines this year, marking a significant milestone. With around 1,070 entries from all over India, exhibiting their skills in 13 film-related crafts, the project received an overwhelmingly positive reaction.

One of the event’s highlights was the 48-Hour Filmmaking Challenge, in which participants made short films with the theme “Relationships in the Age of Technology” in five teams of 20. The team’s ingenuity and fortitude were put to the test during the November 21–23, 2024, challenge, which was spread over 12 sites within a 4-kilometer radius of Panjim.