New Delhi: The Central Government has constituted a 31-member steering committee, chaired by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, to plan and oversee the 56th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which will be held in Goa. This year marks a significant shift in the festival’s approach, with the inclusion of representatives from major OTT platforms for the first time, reflecting the rapidly evolving media and entertainment landscape.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced that the steering committee has been expanded from 16 to 31 members, signifying a more inclusive and industry-wide representation. The move is seen as a step towards aligning the festival with current trends and embracing broader participation from across the entertainment sector.
Renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has been appointed as the festival director. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will serve as the committee’s co-chairman. The committee also includes key government officials such as Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting L. Murugan, I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju, and Press Information Bureau Director General Dhirendra Ojha. Other official members include the Goa Chief Secretary, Joint Secretary (Films) in the Ministry of I&B, Managing Director of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Secretary (Information & Publicity) of Goa, and the CEO of the Entertainment Society of Goa.
The non-official segment of the committee features a wide array of distinguished film personalities, including actors Anil Kapoor and Anupam Kher, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairman Prasoon Joshi, acclaimed editor A. Sreekar Prasad, producer Guneet Monga Kapoor, producer Dil Raju, cinematographer Santosh Sivan, musician Shankar Mahadevan, and filmmaker-actor Suhasini Maniratnam.
In a notable first, leading OTT platforms—Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Sony Pictures Network India, and Viacom—will have representation on the committee, highlighting the increasing importance of digital platforms in global cinema and content dissemination.
The steering committee has been tasked with guiding the overall planning and execution of IFFI. Its responsibilities include recommending programming sections such as masterclasses, workshops, and cultural events, advising on the selection of the Country of Focus in consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs, and proposing names for the International Jury. It will also recommend recipients for the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award and the Indian Film Personality of the Year Award.
In addition, the committee will play a critical role in selecting the opening and closing films, facilitating celebrity participation, endorsing the festival’s budget, and shaping outreach strategies to ensure pan-India engagement with the film industry and stakeholders.
With PTI inputs