31st IFFK International Competition and Indian film selections announced, new Critics Discovery section introduced
IFFK 31st announces international, Indian, Malayalam selections, plus a new Critics Discovery section to boost global Malayalam film visibility.
The main objective of the new Critics Discovery section is to introduce notable and artistically distinctive films in Malayalam to prominent figures and critics in the international film industry and to provide them with more international audience attention and representation at film festivals
Updated - November 13, 2026 09:59 pm IST - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy on Friday announced the list of films for the International Competition section of the 31st International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), to be held in December this year.
The chosen films include Chinese film Embers directed by Aoqian Sun, Brazilian film Gugu’s World directed by Allan Deberton, Mexican film I am Mario directed by Sharon Kleinberg, Filipino film Silenced Nights directed by Lawrence Fajardo, Iranian film Slumber directed by Mani Moghaddam, Uzbek-Kazakh co-production Ouroboros directed by Tatiana Lyutaeva, Iranian film People’s Child directed by Mahmoud Karimi, Uruguayan film Sweet Violence directed by Jeremias Segovia, Bangladeshi film Bonolata Sen directed by Masud Jassan Ujjal and Mexican film The Silent Virgin directed by Xavi Sala.
The Indian films in the competition are Padayaatra directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Chevittorma directed by Leo Thaddeus, Selvi directed by Sailesh Rethnakumar and Members of the Problematic Family directed by Ramalingam Gowtham.
The academy also announced the list of films in the Malayalam Cinema Today section. The films are A Duck Tale directed by Arun Verghese, Ottanjaavalmaram directed by Shruthi Sharanyam, Domestic Circus directed by Ajmal Hamsa, Metro Paramo directed by Shinos Rahman and Sajas Rahman, Eko directed by Dinjith Ayyathan, Leftover directed by Salim Ahamad, Moscow directed by Nainan Anto, Not a Cinema directed by Manu Viswambharam, Ekadesham directed by Don Palathara, Rivo Rukaiah directed by Jaachii I, Kallalan directed by Ajai Prasad and Trace of Wind directed by Sharon Manuel Joy.
The official selections in the Indian Cinema Now section are Hunter’s Moon directed by Ridham Janve, Master Bantoo directed by Arsh Jain, Urmi directed by Deba Prasad Behera, An Evening Ballad directed by Bishal Swargiary, The Ink Stained Hand and the Missing Thumb directed by Yashasvi Juval, Rehmat directed by Gurvinder Singh and Whispers of the Shadow directed by Romi Meitei.
The academy also announced a new Critics Discovery section to strengthen international representation of Malayalam cinema. The main objective of the project is to introduce notable and artistically distinctive films in Malayalam to prominent figures and critics in the international film industry and to provide them with more international audience attention and representation at film festivals.
The films in the Critics Discovery section are Vasara directed by Lekshmi Pushpa, Sudeeptham directed by Deepesh T., Ezhu Niramulla Swapnam directed by Priyanandanan T.R., Tharkam directed by Sajin Baabu and Nebula directed by Mithun Narayan.
Published - November 13, 2026 08:54 pm IST
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