The 39th edition of the International Film Festival of India (Iffi) runs November 22 -December 2 in the seaside town of Goa. Around 5,000 delegates from India and abroad are expected to attend. Some 15 films will compete for the Golden Peacock in the World Cinema section. All are titles from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region and include Marie Miyayama's The Red Spot, Sergei Dvortsevoy's Tulpan and Ekachai Uekrongtham's The Coffin.

Peter Chan's The Warlords will open the festival, screening on November 22, and Majid Majidi's Berlin Silver Bear winner, Song Of Sparrows will close the event. Iffi's aim is to showcase the best of Indian and international cinema to Indian film-makers and film lovers from Goa and across the country. Iffi is encouraging the public to attend the festival by issuing day passes that give access to three films a day.

Iffi attracts a large number of Indian film-makers, film lovers, students and media to town, along with international attendees including film-makers whose films are in the festival, and distributors and speakers attending the Film Bazaar and Confederation of Indian Industry business summit. The international films reflect the 'best of the festivals' from around the world.

The Indian Panorama section features a slew of world premieres of independent Indian films and documentaries, including Joseph Pulinthanath's Yarwing, a film in the Kokborok language of Tripura, the first time a feature in a north-eastern language of the country will open the section. Veteran Indian actress Rekha will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony while actor Kamal Hassan will attend the closing.