Pune: The Pune International Film Festival (PIFF), one of India’s most prestigious film festivals, is set to take place from February 13 to February 20, 2025. Organized collaboratively by the Pune Film Foundation, the Cultural Department of the Maharashtra Government, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Film City, this marks the 23rd edition of the festival.

In a recent announcement, the festival’s director, Dr. Jabbar Patel, revealed the list of Marathi films that have made it to the competitive section of the event. A total of 40 Marathi films had submitted entries, out of which seven films have been shortlisted for the final competition.

The selected films are:

• Giraan (Director: Vijay Shrirang Khude)

• Sangla (Director: Ravaba Gajmal)

• Magic (Director: Ravindra Vijay Karmarkar)

• Cineman (Director: Umesh Bagade)

• Nirjali (Director: Swati Sadashiv Kadu)

• Ravasaheb (Director: Nikhil Mahajan)

• Snow Flower (Director: Gajendra Ahire)

An international jury will evaluate these films during the festival and select the winner of the "Sant Tukaram Best International Marathi Film" award. The award, supported by the Maharashtra Government, comes with a cash prize of ₹5 lakh and will be presented during the closing ceremony.

The festival has also opened its delegate registration process for cinephiles and participants. Interested individuals can register online at the official website, www.piffindia.com. The registration fee for the event’s catalog is ₹800.

With a mix of regional, national, and international cinema, PIFF 2025 promises to showcase exceptional talent and storytelling, making it a significant event on the cultural calendar.