ABOUT 10th AIFF

Welcome to the 10^th Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival!

Inspired by the rich cultural heritage of the Marathwada region in Maharashtra state of India, the Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival (AIFF) is an annual celebration of acclaimed films from across India and the world. This is a special 10^th edition of the festival – AIFF 2025.

Organised by the Marathwada Art, Culture and Film Foundation and presented by Nath Group, Mahatma Gandhi Mission and Yashwantrao Chavan Centre, AIFF has the proud endorsement of FIPRESCI, a renowned international federation of film critics and FFSI, Federation of Film Societies of India. It is also supported by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, National Film Development Corporation Ltd., Government of Maharashtra and Maharashtra Film, State and Cultural Development Corporation Ltd.

Launched in 2014, AIFF has been happening annually since then except for the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even in this short span of time, the festival has earned great accolades among the film fraternity and film lovers alike. The festival’s vision is to educate the general public about the intricacies of film art and nurture a culture of art appreciation in society. The festival also aims to provide the much-needed platform for local film enthusiasts to interact and connect with people from industry. Another crucial objective is to invoke the region’s rich cultural past and establish it as an ideal destination for film production and education.

The festival hosts an array of sections and competitions and confers coveted awards. Given below are the sections and awards:

CATEGORIES AND COMPETITIONS

–  Indian Competition

AIFF has a competition of Indian films with a Golden Kailas Trophy and a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000/- for the Best Film award. Films produced in India are selected for this section. Feature-fiction films produced and screened between 1^st September 2023 and 31^st August 2024 are eligible to enter into Indian Competition section. An international jury of five members decides winners in this competition in various categories.

–      World Cinema

A non-competitive section, World Cinema showcases some of the critically acclaimed and award winning films made internationally recently.

–      Retrospective pays tribute to a renowned Indian film personality from the

–      Tribute: pays homage to a renowned filmmaker from around the

HONOURS AND AWARDS

AIFF celebrates the spirit of cinema by honouring the best filmmakers in different categories.

• Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award: is conferred upon an eminent personality for their outstanding contribution to the Indian film The award comprises a Padmapani Memento and a monetary reward of Rs. 2 lakhs.
• FIPRESCI Prize: is given to the 1^st and the 2^nd film of directors selected in Indian Competition and World Cinema A special 3-member jury of FIPRESCI-India decides the winner in this category.
• Best Film: Golden Kailas with a monetary reward is given to the Director of the Best Film in Indian Competition Category.
• Best Actor: Silver Kailas with a monetary reward is given to the best actor from Indian Competition.
• Best Actress: Silver Kailas with a monetary reward is given to the best actress from Indian Competition.
• Best Script: A medal and a cash prize to the best script writer/technician from Indian Competition.
• Best Short-film: A medal and a cash prize to the best Short Film from Marathwada in Short Film Competition.

Along with a feast of films from around the world, the festival also hosts a variety of programs such as Special Screenings, Panel Discussion, Master Class and Poster Exhibition with distinguished film personalities.