UNICEF IFFI 2025 collaboration highlights five global films celebrating childhood, promoting child rights and emotional wellbeing through cinema at the Goa festival.
UNICEF and IFFI 2025 Showcase Five Global Films Celebrating Childhood
The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) has launched a compelling collaboration with UNICEF, bringing forward a special cinematic segment titled “Five Films, One Universal Story.” This showcase highlights five global films that explore the multifaceted lives of children — from dreams and resilience to struggles and hope.
IFFI, one of South Asia’s oldest and most influential film festivals, has partnered with UNICEF — the United Nations agency dedicated to protecting children’s rights — to highlight narratives that center on childhood from around the world. Through this partnership, cinema becomes more than entertainment: it becomes a vehicle for empathy, advocacy, and social change.
The Five Films in the Showcase
Here’s a look at the five featured films and the themes they explore:
- Happy Birthday (Egypt)
- Directed by Sarah Goher, this film is told in Egyptian Arabic.
- It follows a young maid, Toha, in Cairo who dreams of organizing a birthday party for her best friend.
- The narrative contrasts the innocence of childhood with the harsh realities of social inequality — representing UNICEF’s advocacy for dignity and equal opportunities for children.
- Kadal Kanni (India – Tamil)
- Directed by Dinesh Selvaraj.
- The film blends fantasy and realism: orphaned children imagine angels and mermaids as they navigate their search for belonging.
- It underscores the power of imagination as a coping mechanism, reinforcing that every child has a right to be seen and understood
- Putul (India – Hindi)
- Directed by Radheshyam Pipalwa.
- The story revolves around a seven-year-old girl caught in the turbulence of her parents’ divorce, seeking solace with friends and her grandfather.
- Themes of child mental health and emotional safety take center stage, matching UNICEF’s mission of ensuring safe, nurturing family environments.
- The Beetle Project (South Korea)
- Directed by Jin Kwang-kyo.
- In this heartwarming story, a beetle crosses the border between North and South Korea, becoming a symbol of connection.
- It highlights how curiosity and empathy can bridge even the most politically fraught divides — a powerful message aligned with UNICEF’s belief in healing through understanding.
- The Odyssey of Joy (Kosovo / France)
- Directed by Zgjim Terziqi.
- The film, in Albanian, English, French, and Romany, follows an 11-year-old boy, Lis, in post-war Kosovo.
- Grieving from the trauma of conflict, Lis finds hope and healing through a clown troupe — a testament to childhood resilience and the power of joy in recovery.
Why This Showcase Is Significant
This UNICEF × IFFI initiative is not merely a film festival segment — it’s a platform for advocacy. By curating child-centric stories from very different geographical and socio-political contexts, it:
- Gives voice to children’s lived experiences — their fears, hopes, and dreams
- Promotes equity and inclusion by showing how social structures influence children’s lives.
- Raises awareness about mental health and emotional well-being in children, a key priority for UNICEF.
- Celebrates creativity and imagination as tools for survival and self-expression.
- Encourages global solidarity — despite different backgrounds, children’s stories reveal shared humanity.
About IFFI
- The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was established in 1952.
- It is jointly organized by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG).
- The 56th edition of IFFI is being held in Goa from 20 November to 28 November 2025.
Why This News Is Important
Relevance for Exam Aspirants
For students preparing for government exams (like civil services, teaching, banking, etc.), this collaboration between UNICEF and IFFI is more than cultural news. It aligns with several syllabus themes: child rights, social justice, and global cooperation. Understanding such initiatives helps aspirants discuss real-world social issues — a common requirement in essays and interview stages.
Advocacy & Policy Connection
This showcase underscores how soft power, through cinema, can influence social policy and public awareness. It reflects UNICEF’s broader mission of promoting children’s rights globally — a key topic for current affairs sections in exams such as UPSC or SSC. It also highlights how cultural diplomacy works: storytelling is used to advocate for change, empathy, and action.
Reflects India’s Global Role
That IFFI (an Indian film festival) is partnering with UNICEF conveys India’s role on the global cultural stage. It showcases how India is not just a consumer of global culture but also a contributor and collaborator. For civil service aspirants in particular, this is a good example of how India engages in international partnerships to further social goals.
Historical Context
UNICEF-Film Festival Partnerships
- UNICEF has a long history of leveraging media and the arts to promote its mission. Through films, animations, and campaigns, it has consistently highlighted children’s rights, health, and education.
- The IFFI–UNICEF collaboration started in 2022, when they first curated child-rights–themed film screenings at the festival.
- In earlier editions (for example, at the 54th IFFI), similar films were screened to draw attention to violence, inequality, and mental health among children.
About IFFI’s Legacy
- The International Film Festival of India was founded in 1952.
- Over decades, IFFI has grown from a primarily national film showcase to a global platform, hosting films from numerous countries and providing cultural exchange opportunities.
- Its collaboration with UNICEF represents a strategic use of cultural diplomacy: combining entertainment with social messaging to influence public discourse.
Key Takeaways from This News
| S. No. | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | UNICEF and IFFI are collaboratively presenting a special showcase titled “Five Films, One Universal Story” at IFFI 2025. |
| 2 | The five featured films come from diverse countries — Egypt, India (Tamil & Hindi), South Korea, and Kosovo/France — emphasizing global childhood narratives. |
| 3 | The showcased films address major child-rights themes: social inequality, mental health, imagination, cross-border friendship, and post-conflict recovery. |
| 4 | This collaboration leverages cinema as a tool for social advocacy, using storytelling to deepen empathy and promote children’s well-being. |
| 5 | IFFI, founded in 1952 and held in Goa (20–28 Nov 2025), is organized by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, NFDC, and the Entertainment Society of Goa. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the collaboration between UNICEF and IFFI 2025 about?
The collaboration focuses on showcasing five international films centered on childhood themes under the segment “Five Films, One Universal Story” at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
2. Why is UNICEF involved in a film festival like IFFI?
UNICEF uses creative media such as films to raise awareness about children’s rights, emotional wellbeing, education, equality, and social justice. The festival provides a global platform to spread these messages.
3. Which countries are represented in the showcased films?
The films come from Egypt, India (Tamil and Hindi), South Korea, Kosovo, and France, reflecting diverse cultural narratives around childhood.
4. What types of themes do the selected films address?
They explore themes such as childhood innocence, social inequality, child mental health, cross-border harmony, trauma recovery, imagination, and resilience.
5. What is the objective of “Five Films, One Universal Story”?
The objective is to highlight how children across countries experience similar emotions, struggles, dreams, and hopes regardless of their backgrounds.
6. When and where is IFFI 2025 being held?
IFFI 2025 (56th edition) is held in Goa from 20 to 28 November 2025.
7. Who organizes the International Film Festival of India?
It is jointly organized by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), and Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG).
8. How is this news relevant for competitive exams?
Questions related to international organizations, UNICEF mandates, film festivals, child rights, and India’s cultural diplomacy are commonly asked in UPSC, PSCs, SSC, Railways, Teaching, and Defence exams.
9. How does this initiative benefit children?
The films raise awareness about child-centric issues and promote emotional understanding, encouraging policymakers, parents, and the public to create better environments for children.
10. Has UNICEF collaborated with IFFI before?
Yes. UNICEF has previously partnered with IFFI in past editions to showcase films promoting child rights and social inclusion.
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