The curtains have fallen on the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2024, concluding a nine-day extravaganza that captivated film enthusiasts across the globe. Held in Goa, this year’s festival celebrated the brilliance of global cinema with a star-studded closing ceremony on November 28. Celebrities from Bollywood and the South Indian film industry added glamour to the event as the much-anticipated winners’ list was unveiled.

The Lithuanian film Toxic, directed by Saul Blewett, claimed the coveted Golden Peacock Award, becoming the toast of the evening. The poignant performances by Vesta Matuliyte and Iva Rupeikaite in the same film earned them a shared Best Actress honor. French filmmaker Louis Courvoisier bagged the Special Jury Award for his work on Holy Cow, while its lead actor, Clement Faveau, took home the Best Actor accolade. In the realm of OTT, the Marathi web series Lampan by Avinash Dharmadhikari emerged as the Best Web Series.

The festival honored legendary filmmaker Philip Noyce with the prestigious Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award, acknowledging his indelible contributions to world cinema. On the debut front, American director Sarah Friedland was recognized for her impressive first feature, Familiar Touch. Romanian filmmaker Bogdan Muresanu received the Best Director award for his compelling narrative in The New Year That Never Came, further showcasing the diversity celebrated at IFFI.

As the festival comes to a close, the spotlight shifts to the impact these honors will have on global cinema. With fresh voices being discovered and veterans celebrated, IFFI continues to set the stage for storytelling that transcends borders. The 2024 winners are likely to inspire more creative collaborations and pave the way for a richer cinematic landscape.