The 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) has brought forth a pool of 75 talented filmmakers and artists through the third edition of the “75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow” initiative. Handpicked from across India, these promising individuals represent 19 different States and Union Territories, adding diversity to the cinematic landscape.
IFFI; DIVERSE SELECTION ACROSS INDIA
The selected participants hail from Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Maharashtra leads in the number of selections, followed by Delhi, West Bengal, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu.
IFFI; MINISTER’S CONGRATULATIONS
Union Minister Shri Anurag Singh Thakur congratulated the winners, expressing excitement about the 75 talented young creators across 10 categories. He emphasized the significance of the initiative in India’s journey to becoming the Content Subcontinent of the world.
IFFI: EMERGING TRENDS
This year’s participants include talents from Bishnupur (Manipur), Jagatsinghpur (Odisha), and Sadarpur (Madhya Pradesh), highlighting the inclusion of voices from interior regions. The selection process considered over 600 applications, with the Animation, Visual Effects (VFX), Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR) category receiving the maximum number of applications.
YOUNGEST TALENT AND CATEGORIES
All participants are under 35, with the youngest being Shashwat Shukla, an 18-year-old from Mumbai in the Music Composition/Sound Design category. The 75 creative minds cover 10 filmmaking crafts, including Direction, Scriptwriting, Cinematography, Acting, Editing, Playback Singing, Music Composition, Costume-and-Makeup, Art Design, and Animation, VFX, AR & VR.
MASTERCLASSES AND INTERVENTIONS
Specially curated masterclasses await the participants, covering various aspects of filmmaking. Notable sessions include a case study on screenwriting and directing for “Oh My God!” by Shri. Umesh Shukla, mentorship on script evolution by veteran scriptwriter Shri. Charudutt Acharya, and insights into animation and visual effects by award-winning creator Ms. Charuvi Agrawal.
SHOWCASING TALENTS
The participants will take part in a “48 Hour Filmmaking Challenge,” producing short films on the theme “Mission LiFE” within 48 hours. The competition, in collaboration with Shorts International, aims to showcase their interpretation of the theme.
TALENT CAMP AND INDUSTRY INTERACTION
A CMOT Talent Camp will facilitate networking opportunities with representatives from India’s Media and Entertainment sector. Participants will pitch their ideas, concepts, skills, and previous work for potential employment opportunities with industry leaders.
JURY PANELS
The selection process involved Grand Jury and Selection Jury panels, comprising renowned personalities from the industry. The “75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow” initiative, conceptualized by Union Minister Shri Anurag Thakur, aims to identify, nurture, and showcase young cinematic talents on the international stage. It was launched to commemorate the celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav at the 2021 edition of IFFI.
