IFFI, WAVES Film Bazaar and LTIMindtree Launch India’s First AI Film Festival

Darpan news GOA Panjim :- The WAVES Film Bazaar and the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), in collaboration with LTIMindtree, launched the first-ever AI Film Festival and Cinema AI Hackathon in this 56th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), in Goa. This pioneering initiative marks a significant step in India’s exploration of Artificial Intelligence in cinema, merging creative expression with cutting-edge technology.

Artificial Intelligence Film Festival

The festival received a diverse and impressive lineup of 68 films, representing 18 countries, award winning film packages from 5 international AI film festivals, (Adobe Max, AI Film3 festival from USA, Burano AI Film Festival from Italy, Metamorph AI Film Awards from UK, Omni Film Festival from Australia) and 14 individual filmmakers from across the world. This rich participation underscores the rapid rise of AI-assisted storytelling and the growing community of creators experimenting with next-generation cinematic tools. From these submissions, the festival selected 27 films for the Competition category and 4 films for the Non-Competition showcase, curated for their artistic merit, technical innovation, and narrative depth.

The Winners of Competition Awards for AI Film Festival was declared at the concluding ceremony of WAVES Film Bazaar.

The Craft Honoured the following film projects with the following distinguished awards to celebrate excellence in AI-driven filmmaking:

1. The Craft Master Award – Best AI Short Film (₹3,00,000) Award was presented to English language film NAGORI directed by Guillaume Hurbault from France. It stands out as the most outstanding AI-generated short film, bagging recognition for excellence in storytelling, execution, and emotional resonance.
2. The Craft Vanguard Award – Most Innovative Use of AI / Experimental Narrative (₹2,00,000) was presented to English language film ‘The Cinema That Never Was’ directed by Mark Wachholz from Germany. The film was honoured for its bold experimentation, unconventional narrative structures, and pioneering use of AI technologies.
3. The Craft Spectra Award – Best AI Animation / Visual Design (₹1,00,000) was presented to English language film ‘Kyra’ directed by Meta Puppet’ from USA. It is recognized for its exceptional visual artistry, design innovation, and aesthetic accomplishments enabled through AI tools and techniques.
4. Jury Special Mention was presented to English language film ‘The Last Backup Final Part’ by Sreerithanya M. and Hindi film ‘Miracle on Kachua Beach’ by Shivanshu Nirupam. These films have demonstrated exceptional promise in AI Film making.

AI Film Screenings

AI Film Festival screenings will be held at two key venues:

• 26th November, 2:30 PM – Maquinez Palace, Audi 1
• 27th November, 4:45 PM – INOX Porvorim, Audi 4

About IFFI:

Born in 1952, the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) stands tall as South Asia’s oldest and largest celebration of cinema. Jointly hosted by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), State Government of Goa, the festival has grown into a global cinematic powerhouse—where restored classics meet bold experiments, and legendary maestros share space with fearless first-timers. What makes IFFI truly sparkle is its electric mix—international competitions, cultural showcases, masterclasses, tributes, and the high-energy WAVES Film Bazaar, where ideas, deals and collaborations take flight. Staged against Goa’s stunning coastal backdrop from November 20–28, the 56th edition promises a dazzling spectrum of languages, genres, innovations, and voices—an immersive celebration of India’s creative brilliance on the world stage.