Goa, 14 November 2026
The 57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2026 will feature 'Films from BRICS', a showcase of cinema from BRICS countries that engages with questions of democracy, freedom, identity, history and contemporary global concerns. Drawing on histories, social realities and personal journeys, the films offer perspectives from the societies they emerge from.
Featuring 21 films, the selection moves across countries, languages and genres, bringing narratives that engage with questions of freedom, identity, social inequality, family, conflict, displacement and belonging. Several of these films look back at defining moments of struggle and change, from pro-democracy movements to the fight against slavery and colonial rule.
Brazil’s ‘Amadeo and the Hypothetical New World’ imagines an African inventor in 1830s Brazil whose invention becomes part of the struggle to liberate enslaved people. Indonesia’s ‘The Sea Speaks His Name’ follows the disappearance of a student activist during the country’s 1998 pro-democracy movement and his family’s search for answers. South Africa’s ‘The Trek’ takes viewers across the Kalahari Desert in the mid-19th century, confronting the brutality of the colonial frontier.
Contemporary concerns also find a place in the selection. ‘Dreaming of Serenada’, a Uganda-UK documentary, explores climate change through a father-daughter relationship and the impact of flooding on a rainforest landscape. ‘Faya Dayi’, from Ethiopia and the United States, examines communities connected to khat cultivation and consumption, bringing into focus livelihoods, social realities and the aspirations of young people. Iran’s ‘Poultry Farm’ follows an undocumented child from Iraq whose search for a missing friend puts his own life at risk.
Family, identity and personal choices form another strong theme. Saudi Arabia’s ‘Hijra’ follows a young girl, her grandmother and her missing sister on a journey that uncovers family secrets and generational differences. China’s ‘Embers’ traces the consequences of a mix-up involving cremated ashes, bringing two women face to face with loss and mortality. ‘The Condor Daughter’, a Bolivia-Peru production, portrays a young woman from an indigenous Andean community torn between inherited musical traditions and her dream of becoming a performer. Nigeria-UK production ‘Lady’ follows a young taxi driver in Lagos whose encounter with a group of sex workers leads her towards solidarity and self-discovery.
The Indian entry, ‘Article 370’, directed by Aditya Dhar, is set against the backdrop of the 2016 Kashmir unrest and follows a mission to abrogate Article 370. The film received three honours at the 72nd National Film Awards in the categories of Best Film, Best Actress and Best Music.
The complete line-up also includes ‘Kindik (The Cord)’ (Kazakhstan), ‘Baracoa’ (Cuba and Italy), ‘Bo Bo’ (Russian Federation), ‘Safe Exit’ (Egypt, Germany, Libya, Qatar and Tunisia), ‘9 Temples to Heaven’ (Thailand, Singapore, France, Norway, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Qatar), ‘Cotton’ (Uzbekistan), ‘Baga: Tomorrow Belongs to No One’ (Malaysia), ‘1982’ (Vietnam), ‘And the Snow Was Falling’ (Belarus) and ‘Baab’ (United Arab Emirates).
Together, the 21 films offer audiences a cross-section of cinematic perspectives, with stories that move beyond national boundaries while engaging with shared questions of freedom, belonging, memory, resilience and change.
Scheduled from 20th-28th November 2026 across multiple venues in Goa, the 57th International Film Festival of India will showcase over 150 international films from 86 countries. The festival will bring together films across genres, countries and languages through its competitive and non-competitive sections, curated packages, retrospectives, tributes and thematic showcases, providing a platform for cross-cultural exchange and cinematic excellence.
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PIB IFFI team | Lekshmi Priya/ Sasmita/ Darshana Rane