Actor Rashmika Mandanna expressed her appreciation for the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), describing it as a platform dedicated to the “celebration of films.” Speaking at the closing ceremony, she shared, “Film festival, to me, is a celebration.
It’s where all of us come together to celebrate the films we work on for years, and finally, we get to see them celebrated. I’m really grateful for that.”
Singer Amaal Mallik, who performed at the event for the first time, also shared his excitement. “As a performer, I’m here for the first time. I’ve attended before, but this is my first time being invited to perform, and it feels amazing. This happens every year in Goa, and it’s a beautiful event that brings so many people together,” he said.
The closing ceremony of IFFI 2024 was graced by several prominent figures, including director Ramesh Sippy, actor Pratik Gandhi, actress-politician Jaya Prada, television star Rupali Ganguly, and filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, among others.
Reflecting on her experience at the festival, Jaya Prada said, “I feel proud and grateful to be invited to such a prestigious platform.”
Rupali Ganguly, who attended the festival for the first time as a jury member for the Web series category, added, “I am so proud to be part of this event. It feels such an honor.”
The festival, which began on November 20, featured more than 180 international films from 81 countries, including 16 world premieres, three international premieres, 43 Asian premieres, and 109 Indian premieres.
A special tribute was paid to four iconic figures in Indian cinema to mark their 100th birth anniversaries: actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor, director Tapan Sinha, Telugu cinema legend Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR), and legendary playback singer Mohammed Rafi.
The 55th edition of IFFI concluded on November 28, celebrating the global impact and legacy of cinema.