By — Dilip Guha

New Delhi is all set to host its first International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD) from March 25-31, with more than 125 Indian and international films set to be screened across multiple venues in the city.

The Government of Delhi, through Delhi Tourism & Transportation Development Corporation Ltd., hosted an event on Wednesday that announced in style, with the upcoming first International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD). Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra led the evening, which attracted eminent figures from the film and entertainment sectors, industry partners, and press representatives. Held at the elegant Leela Palace in Chanakyapuri, the meeting brought together government leaders, filmmakers, cultural curators, and the media to unveil the festival’s vision, programming highlights, and international tie-ups.  Hon’ble  Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta described it as a significant step towards positioning the city as a global cultural and cinematic hub. In her presence as the chief guest, she welcomed the plan to position the capital as a global cinematic destination. She says, “Delhi has always shaped culture, not followed it. With International Film Festival Delhi, we are creating a public festival that belongs to the people of this city.” “This is not an event for a few insiders. It is a city-wide celebration of cinema that supports creativity, creates opportunity and places Delhi firmly on the global cultural map.”

Earlier, the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was originally hosted in Delhi for several years after its inception in 1952. The national capital served as the primary venue, with screenings organised at major auditoriums and cultural centres, drawing diplomats, filmmakers and cinema lovers from across the world. However, in 2004, the festival was permanently shifted to Panaji, Goa.

Now, the International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD) is going to be a city-wide film festival organised by the government to showcase both Indian and international cinema and to make film culture accessible to all residents of Delhi. This week-long festival will take place at prominent venues, including Bharat Mandapam. Conceived as a government-led initiative, the festival aims to bring world cinema closer to the public while fostering a vibrant film culture among citizens.

The festival is being organised by Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation as a long-term cultural project to establish Delhi as a global film hub.

Tourism minister Kapil Mishra said the festival will provide young talent with an international platform and encourage dialogue on evolving cinematic practices. He says, “IFFD is a celebration of Delhi’s vibrant spirit and its people.” By transforming public spaces into dynamic arenas for cinema and cultural dialogue, we are bringing world-class creative experiences closer to every citizen. Through a unified Tourism Board, we aim to streamline processes, provide stronger institutional support to filmmakers and creative industries and attract greater national and international media attention to Delhi. Our vision is to position the city as a thriving cultural capital that inspires participation, pride and global recognition,” he added.

 What unfolded was part announcement, part showcase, as organisers unveiled an ambitious slate of premieres, neighbourhood screenings, master classes, live performances, and cultural activations designed to spotlight the city’s UNESCO sites, heritage monuments, and vibrant neighbourhoods for filmmakers and audiences worldwide. Planners emphasised that the festival aims to open doors for production teams, storytellers, and local talent, while laying the groundwork for long-term film tourism opportunities. The meeting offered a sweeping overview of programming and international partnerships that will shape the March festival, alongside previews of world and Indian premieres to be staged at major venues and community hubs across the city. Announcements also highlighted master classes, talent platforms, and industry roundtables intended to connect local creators with global collaborators. The night culminated in cultural performances blending classical and contemporary forms, reinforcing the festival’s city-wide footprint and its mission to celebrate heritage through cinema and the arts.

Apart from film screenings, the festival will host premieres and star-studded special screenings, offering audiences an opportunity to experience a wide range of work. Master classes by filmmakers and experts, industry panel discussions, workshops and cultural performances are part of the schedule, designed to provide in-depth insights and practical understanding of the craft and the business of cinema.

A major highlight will be dedicated showcases for digital and emerging cinema, providing space for innovation and experimentation driven by new technologies.

The festival will also feature the CineXchange Film Market and Cineverse Expo, envisioned as platforms for networking, distribution and investment opportunities for film professionals.

 “IFFD is not a one-week spectacle. We are building a cultural institution for Delhi that grows year after year,” shares the MD & CEO of DTTDC, Mr Suneel Anchipaka. “We

want to give citizens a festival they can truly participate in and take pride in. One that attracts visitors to join us in Delhi to partake in the celebrations,” he added.

Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra, Festival Director, said: “IFFD is a platform for the youth to challenge themselves and be challenged, to be inspired and to inspire, to discover and be discovered. Several inspiring stories are waiting to be told, and the International Film Festival Delhi is the platform to ignite a new flame for cinema. Through the festival, we also seek to amplify Delhi’s stories, from its neighbourhoods to its stages, and to connect local talent with global audiences. I’m honoured to help build a festival that truly belongs to the city.”

Actor Divya Dutta said, “As a Delhi girl, these streets are part of me. I’ve played characters shaped by the city’s humour and grit, and I’m proud to welcome IFFD, a festival that brings those neighbourhood stories to a wider audience.”

Actor Nimrat Kaur said: “Delhi shaped me, from DPS Noida to Shri Ram College of Commerce and the city’s endless, messy journeys on U-specials, and it was there I found the stories I needed to tell. The Lunchbox proved that the most intimate story can be the most universal; cinema carries feeling across languages and borders. That’s exactly what IFFD stands for: a space where local voices find global audiences. As someone who has lived on both sides of the camera, I’m proud to be part of this festival and to champion the young storytellers of Delhi: tell your story honestly, unapologetically, and the world will listen.”

Actor Arjun Kapoor said: “There’s something about Delhi, its energy, its diversity, its conversations, its myriad cultures. It carries centuries of history comfortably with its cool

modern energy. IFFD taps into that composite facet of the city, bringing together artistes and storytellers from across the country under one roof. I see IFFD as a reminder that stories can start anywhere, and a city as multifaceted as this has plenty waiting to be told. In Delhi, something powerful is always about to begin. I’m excited to experience it with everyone.”

According to the organisers, the event is aligned with the Delhi govt’s film policy and will place emphasis on film tourism, talent development, industry collaboration and the growth of the creative economy. A single-window facilitation system for filmmakers is expected to streamline shooting and production-related processes, making the capital more accessible for film projects.

The organisers noted the festival’s dual purpose: to stage a compelling cultural event and create sustainable opportunities for film production and storytelling in the capital. The message was clear: this isn’t just a week of screenings; it’s a strategic push to make the city a preferred destination for filmmakers, production houses and cultural tourism.

By ensuring public access to international cinema and creating spaces for interaction among artistes, technicians, and audiences, the festival aims to transform the capital into a vibrant centre where art, culture, and industry converge over 7 days of screenings and events.

The execution of this cinematic extravaganza is being led by Wizcraft Entertainment Group, known for its large-scale cultural and entertainment productions. Like the pageantry of the IIFA Awards, IFFI and GIMA, Wizcraft brings the sheer scale and “wow factor” required to make this first edition an unforgettable spectacle. While M/s KPMG is the knowledge partner, the festival is owned and organised by the Delhi Tourism & Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC), Government of NCT Delhi.

Sabbas Joseph, Co-founder and Director of Wizcraft Entertainment Group, said: “What we launched today goes beyond a festival format; it establishes a global cultural property. At this scale, the platform creates meaningful opportunities for Indian and international storytellers to connect, collaborate and find audiences worldwide. The sheer largeness and ambition of the project signal that Delhi is stepping onto the world stage as a lasting hub for cinema and cultural exchange.”