#IFFIWood, 19 November 2025

International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is once again partnering with the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to celebrate the many shades of childhood, its wonder, its struggles, and its unbreakable resilience, through stories that move, challenge, and inspire!

The UNICEF X IFFI collaboration was first launched in 2022. Now in its fourth year, the coming together of two renowned brands, from the world of children’s rights and film festivals, continues to build a space where cinema meets conscience. 56^th edition of IFFI’s curation brings together films that confront the realities children face across different cultures while celebrating their courage, creativity, and hope. By uniting UNICEF’s humanitarian vision with the expressive force of cinema, the partnership reaffirms cinema’s power to awaken empathy and inspire action for every child’s right to a better world.

Five Films, One Universal Story

This year’s lineup features five exceptional films from across the globe- Kosovo, South Korea, Egypt and India, each revealing a different truth of childhood - the search for belonging, the fight for dignity, the need for love, and the dream of freedom. Woven together, they form a poignant cinematic tapestry that embodies the shared spirit of UNICEF and IFFI, a belief in the power of storytelling to open hearts and shape a more just, compassionate world for every child.

1. Happy Birthday (Egypt/ Egyptian Arabic Language)

Egyptian filmmaker Sarah Goher’s poignant debut Happy Birthday premiered at the Tribeca Film festival 2025 and is also the official Oscar entry from Egypt. It tells the story of Toha, an eight-year-old maid determined to throw her best friend Nelly a perfect birthday party even if the world around her is anything but fair. Set in modern Cairo, the film exposes the sharp divides of privilege and innocence, revealing how children often see humanity more clearly than the adults around them.

Through its tender portrayal of friendship and inequality, Happy Birthday mirrors UNICEF’s commitment to dignity, equality, and opportunity for every child, no matter where they are born.

2. Kadal Kanni (India/Tamil Language)

Tamil filmmaker Dinesh Selvaraj’s lyrical feature Kadal Kanni paints a world where orphaned children dream of angels and mermaids, symbols of care, comfort, and belonging. Through a blend of realism and fantasy, the film celebrates the imagination that sustains children even in hardship, reminding us that dreams are often their first form of survival. With its poetry and compassion, Kadal Kanni beautifully complements the UNICEF X IFFI showcase, celebrating every child’s right to dream, to be seen, and to be loved.

3. Putul (India/Hindi Language)

Indian filmmaker Radheshyam Pipalwa’s Putul follows a seven-year-old girl caught in the emotional storm of her parents’ divorce. Hurt and confused, she seeks solace in her friends, a group called the “Damaged Gang,” and her beloved Nana. When she disappears, her parents are forced to confront not just their fears but the fractures within their own hearts. Moving and deeply humane, Putul explores the silent resilience of children navigating fractured families. It echoes UNICEF’s advocacy for mental well-being and the right of every child to grow in love, understanding, and security.

4. The Beetle Project (Korea/ Korean Language)

Korean filmmaker Jin Kwang-kyo’s heartwarming The Beetle Project, premiered at the Asian Pop up, Chicago. The film opens with a plastic bag containing a beetle from North Korea finding its way into the hands of a South Korean girl. The beetle sparks curiosity and connection between children on either side of the Korean border. It becomes a symbol of shared wonder that transcends division. Told with warmth and humor, the film celebrates curiosity, empathy, and the innocent hope that bridges even the widest distances. With its spirit of reconciliation and compassion, The Beetle Project embodies UNICEF’s belief in the imagination and empathy of young minds to inspire peace and understanding.

5. The Odyssey of Joy (Odiseja e Gëzimit) ((France, Kosovo/ Albanian, English, French, Romany Languages)

Kosovan filmmaker Zgjim Terziqi’s deeply moving coming of age debut feature Odyssey of Joy premiered at the Cairo International Film Festival,2025. The story unfolds at the dawn of the new millennium, where 11-year-old Lis, whose father is missing in the war, finds himself adrift between grief and growing up. When he joins a French clown troupe traveling through postwar Kosovo to entertain local children, Lis begins a quiet journey toward healing, discovering that hope, once lost, can still be reclaimed. Gentle yet profound, Odyssey of Joy captures the spirit of resilience that defines childhood amid conflict, echoing UNICEF’s enduring belief in every child’s right to joy, safety, and a future.

Together, these five films embody the heart of the UNICEF X IFFI collaboration, using the transformative power of cinema to give voice to the hopes, fears, and triumphs of children everywhere.

Don’t miss the screening of these powerful films portraying children’s lives around the world. Click here to view the screening schedule for the UNICEF × IFFI films.

About IFFI:  

Born in 1952, the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) stands tall as South Asia’s oldest and largest celebration of cinema. Jointly hosted by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), State Government of Goa, the festival has grown into a global cinematic powerhouse—where restored classics meet bold experiments, and legendary maestros share space with fearless first-timers. What makes IFFI truly sparkle is its electric mix—international competitions, cultural showcases, masterclasses, tributes, and the high-energy WAVES Film Bazaar, where ideas, deals and collaborations take flight. Staged against Goa’s stunning coastal backdrop from November 20–28, the 56th edition promises a dazzling spectrum of languages, genres, innovations, and voices—an immersive celebration of India’s creative brilliance on the world stage.

* * *

PIB IFFI CAST AND CREW | Ritu Shukla/Sriyanka Chatterjee/Darshana Rane | IFFI 56 - 013