At Iffi, 9 of 15 contenders for Golden Peacock are women

Panaji: The 55th International Film Festival of India (Iffi) will showcase 15 films competing for the Golden Peacock award. Among the films in contention, nine are directed by women.

One of the most anticipated films in the competition is ‘Fear and Trembling’, a world premiere from Iranian filmmakers Manijeh Hekmat and Faezeh Azizkhani. The film follows an older woman grappling with fear and loneliness in modern-day Iran as she navigates societal shifts and personal transformation.

‘Gulizar’, a debut feature from Turkish writer-director Belkis Bayrak, delves into the life of a young woman who struggles with trauma and societal expectations while seeking her independence. Tunisian-Canadian director Meryam Joobeur’s ‘Who Do I Belong To’ is a poignant drama about a woman torn between her love for her son, who returns from war, and the dark secrets he brings with him.

French filmmaker Louise Courvoisier brings ‘Holy Cow’, a coming-of-age comedy-drama about an 18-year-old named Totone, whose carefree life is upended when he is forced to take responsibility for his younger sister. Spanish director Iciar Bollain’s ‘I Am Nevenka’ is about Nevenka Fernandez, the first woman in Spain to win a court case against a high-ranking politician for sexual harassment.

‘Pierce’, directed by rising Singaporean filmmaker Nelicia Low, is a psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of family relationships and sibling rivalry within the high-stakes world of competitive fencing. Canadian filmmaker Sophie Deraspe’s ‘Shepherds’ follows a Canadian copywriter who moves to the French Alps to become a shepherd, only to confront the isolation and challenges of his new life.

Lithuanian filmmaker Saule Bliuvaite’s debut feature, ‘Toxic’, explores the dark complexities of adolescence, friendship, and self-destruction. This year’s line-up spans a wide range of genres and themes, from poignant coming-of-age stories to gripping historical dramas.

Tunisian director Lotfi Achour’s ‘Red Path’ tells the haunting story of Achraf, a young shepherd who struggles with trauma and loss while living in a rugged rural landscape. Romanian director Bogdan Mureșanu’s ‘The New Year That Never Came’ intricately weaves the political upheaval of Romania’s 1989 revolution with stories of resistance, loss, and hope.

Czech filmmaker Jiri Madl’s ‘Waves’ is a historical drama set during the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia that follows a group of journalists risking everything to report the truth. ‘Panopticon’, a debut feature by Georgian-American director George Sikharulidze, follows a young Georgian teen as he faces questions of identity, morality, and self in post-Soviet Georgia.

Indian filmmakers also feature prominently in this year’s competition. ‘The Goat Life’, directed by Blessy Thomas, tells the story of a migrant worker’s survival in the harsh desert of Saudi Arabia. ‘Article 370’, directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, explores India’s tumultuous constitutional changes in Jammu and Kashmir. Nikhil Mahajan’s ‘Raavsaheb’, a Marathi crime thriller set in tribal India, is a tale of man-animal conflict.


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