New Delhi, Nov 09: Aimed at honouring exceptional emerging voices in world cinema, the Best Debut Feature Film of a Director Award at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025 will spotlight seven remarkable first-time filmmakers — five international and two Indian.
The prestigious Silver Peacock, a ₹10 lakh cash prize, and a commendation await the winner, to be chosen by an eminent jury chaired by acclaimed Indian filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.
Joining him are Graeme Clifford (Editor and Director, Australia), Katharina Schüttler (Actor, Germany), Chandran Rutnam (Filmmaker, Sri Lanka), and Remi Adefarasin (Cinematographer, England).
Each selection in this year’s line-up exemplifies bold storytelling, fresh cinematic language, and the distinct vision of first-time directors shaping the future of global cinema.
Fränk, by Estonian director Tõnis Pill, is a tender coming-of-age drama about a 13-year-old boy rebuilding his sense of belonging after domestic trauma. The film, nominated for multiple awards at SCHLINGEL 2025, explores fractured families and the healing power of friendship.
Spanish filmmaker Gemma Blasco’s Fury (La Furia) is a visceral feminist drama that delves into the aftermath of sexual assault. Premiered at SXSW and San Sebastián, it unflinchingly examines fear, shame, and survival in a patriarchal society through the intertwined pain of siblings Alexandra and Adrián.
Germany’s Christina Tournatzés presents Karla, an atmospheric drama based on a true 1962 case of a child who dared to seek justice against her abusive father. With poetic restraint, Tournatzés crafts a deeply empathetic account of courage and self-expression.
Iranian director Hesam Farahmand’s My Daughter’s Hair (Raha) is a moving social realist portrait of class conflict and fragile morality. The story of a father selling his daughter’s hair to buy a laptop becomes a profound commentary on dignity and survival.
From Mexico, Ernesto Martínez Bucio’s The Devil Smokes (and Saves the Burnt Matches in the Same Box) offers a haunting, surreal vision of five abandoned siblings navigating childhood fears and fractured realities — a poetic exploration of resilience through imagination.
India’s Tribeni Rai brings Shape of Momo, set in Sikkim, where a young woman challenges the inertia of generations of women in her family. Shot in Nepali, the film reflects on quiet revolutions born within tradition.
Completing the line-up is Ata Thambaycha Naay! (Now, There’s No Stopping!) by Shivraj Waichal, an inspiring Marathi drama about sanitation workers returning to school. Blending humour and humanity, it celebrates education as a tool of empowerment.
Together, these films capture IFFI’s enduring spirit — celebrating the courage, creativity, and conviction of cinema’s newest storytellers.
