The 23 rd Chennai International Film Festival will be held between 11th December 2025 and 18th
December 2025 by Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation with the support o f Government of
Tamil Nadu and NFDC.
Venues Dates of the Festival 11th December 2025 to 18th December 2025
PVR INOX – Sathyam Cinemas, Royapettah &
PVR INOX – Citi Centre, RK Salai
Inaugural Function PVR INOX Cinemas – Sathyam screen
(December 11, 2025 at 6:00 pm)
Closing Function PVR INOX Cinemas – Sathyam screen
(December 18, 2025 at 6:00 pm)
For Tamil films competition category, ICAF informed through Press, our website and our social media about the submission
process and the last date for receipt of entries was fixed as 1st November 2025.
12 films selected by the Preview Committee will be announced at the Press Meet on 8th December 2025. This year also
we will b e giving 1 3 awards.
We will have Competition for World Cinema category inviting entries through FilmFreeway. The response is very
encouraging. The list of selected films will also be announced at the Press Meet. We will be giving 2 awards and 1 special
mention b y way of certificates.
HIGHLIGHTS OF 23’d CHENNAI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Number o f Countries 51
Number of Films 122
Guests Diplomats from various Foreign Missions across India
and Film Directors from all over the World
Opening Film EAGLES o f the REPUBLIC by Tarik Saleh
(Cannes Film Festival 2025 – Palme d’Or nominee)
Closing Film EL 47 (The 47) by Marcel Barrena
Other Award-Winning Films Oscars 2026 Nominations (14 films)
Young Mothers, The Things You Kill, A Poet, 100 Liters
o f Gold, I t Was Just an Accident, Panopticon, Sound
of Falling, The Love That Remains, All That’s Left of
You, Obraz – The Tower o f Strength, Sentimental
Value, Magelan, Sirät, Eagles of the Republic
Cannes Film Festival 2025 – Winners (6 films)
It Was Just a n Accident (Palme d’or winner),
Sentimental Value, Sound of Falling, Young Mothers,
The Little Sister, A Poet
Berlin International Film Festival – Winners (3 films)
Dreams (Sex Love) – Golden Berlin Bear winner,
Kontinental ’25, Paternal Leave
Films from popular film festivals like Busan International Film Festival, Fajr Film Festival, Venice Film Festival,
San Sebastian International Film Festival and Locarno International Film Festival
Homage Country Focus – Russia 3 films (courtesy: Russian House in Chennai)
Retrospective of Wim Wenders (German Director) 5 films
Retrospective of Karen Shakhnazarov
(Russian Director)
5 films (courtesy: Russian House i n Chennai)
Contemporary Films from Spain 4 films (courtesy: Embassy of Spain in New Delhi)
3 films (courtesy: Goethe-Institut, Chennai), including
German Cinema
SOUND OF FALLING, Germany’s entry to Oscars 2026
French Films 2 films (courtesy: Aliance Française of Madras)
Glimpses o f Taiwan 2 films (courtesy: Economic and Cultural Office of
Taiwan in Chennai)
Country Focus – Kerala 5 films
Indian Panorama 15 films (8 films courtesy of DFF, NFDC India)
including Obraz (The Tower o f Strength) which is
Montenegro’s entry to Oscars 2026)
Tamil Feature Films Competition 12 films (list enclosed)
Homage to Mr. Shaji N Karun (Indian Film Director
and DoP)
Screening of BASHA by Suresh Krishna to commemorate 50 years of contribution by Sh. Rajinikanth j i to Indian film
industry, particularly Tamil film industry, 30 years o f BAASHHA and 60 years o f Sathya Jyothi Films.
Short films by the students of Tamil Nadu Government MGR Film and Television Institute
FIRST TIME IN CIFF:
I n World cinema section:
Movies from Saint Helena, Georgia, Finland, Philippines, Jordan, Myanmar, Nepal and Montenegro
I n Indian Panorama section:
A movie from Bihar (Bhojpuri language)
This year w e will be taking student volunteers from D G Vaishnav College.
DELEGATE REGISTRATION
Direct Registration at festival office of PVR INOX Sathyam Cinemas, Royapettah from December 10. Before that
registration will be done a t ICAF office: Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation, E Block, 2nd Floor, Door Number 4 ,
Gemini Parsn Apartments, Cathedral Garden Road, Chennai – 600006
Phone: 8994828347/8939022618/9840151956
Online Registration – Unfortunately, n o online registration this time
Annexure
FILMS FOR TAMIL FEATURE FILE COMPETITION
- 3 BHK
- ALANGU
3 . PIDIMAN ( HANDFUL O F SOIL ) - KAADHAL ENPADHU PODHU UDAMAI
- MAAMAN
- MAAYAKKOOTHU
- MADRAS MATINEE
- MARUTHAM
- ONCE UPON A TIME IN MADRAS
10 PARANTHU PO
1 1 TOURIST FAMILY