Pune: The 23rd Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) is set to captivate cinephiles from February 13 to 20, 2025. This annual event, jointly organized by the Pune Film Foundation and the Cultural Department of the Government of Maharashtra, promises an exquisite lineup of over 150 films from 81 countries.
In a press conference, PIFF Director Dr. Jabbar Patel announced that this year’s theme celebrates the "Hundredth Birth Anniversary of Showman Raj Kapoor." The event will showcase films across 11 screens at three prominent venues in Pune: PVR Icon at Pavilion Mall on Senapati Bapat Road (6 screens), Inox in Camp (3 screens), and Cinepolis at Westend Mall in Aundh (2 screens).
The festival received an overwhelming response with 1,059 entries from 107 countries, of which 150 films were carefully selected. Online registrations begin on January 15 on the official website, www.piffindia.com, and spot registrations will commence at theaters on February 3. The registration fee for the entire festival is ₹800.
An international jury will preside over the World Cinema Competition section, which features 14 films, including Darkest Miriam (Canada), A Traveler’s Needs (South Korea), In Retreat (India), and On the Invention of Species (Ecuador, Cuba). The winner will receive the prestigious 'Maharashtra Govt Sant Tukaram Best International Film Award,' along with a ₹10 lakh prize.
Key attendees at the press conference included Dr. Mohan Agashe, Dr. Satish Alekar, Chairman of the Film Selection Committee Samar Nakhate, and other trustees and members involved in curating this cinematic feast.
This year’s festival promises to be a grand celebration of global cinema, with a spotlight on diverse storytelling and rich cultural narratives.