IFP, one of the world’s leading festivals celebrating Creativity x Culture, is back this November — and it’s bigger than ever. Marking its 15th anniversary, IFP returns to Mumbai’s Mehboob Studios on November 29 and 30 for a two-day celebration brimming with performances, workshops, conversations, and storytelling that unite creative minds from around the globe.
What began as a small dorm-room dream has grown into a global phenomenon that brings together artists, creators, and thinkers from every corner of the world. This milestone year celebrates 15 years of storytelling, collaboration, and community — the very pillars that transformed IFP into a creative powerhouse.
At the heart of the festival are its iconic 50-Hour Creative Challenges, which this year received an overwhelming response from over 40,000 participants across 350+ cities and 23 countries in six categories: Filmmaking, Music, Design, Photography, Writing, and Performing Arts.
The Season 15 jury features a stellar line-up of India’s most celebrated creative names, including Dibakar Banerjee (Filmmaker), Hariharan (Padma Shri Awardee, Musician), Sheeba Chaddha (Actress), Bilal Siddiqi (Screenwriter and Novelist), Santhy Balachandran (Writer), Ravi Jadhav (Writer, Director, Producer, Actor), Kanu Behl (Filmmaker), Mukesh Chhabra (Casting Director and Filmmaker), and Gajesh Mitkari (Designer, Founder of Studio Modak), among others.
Reflecting on IFP’s journey, Ritam Bhatnagar, Founder of IFP, said, “What began as a small dormitory idea shared among a few passionate creators has now grown into one of the world’s leading celebrations of creativity and culture. Fifteen years later, IFP continues to be that space where creative people come together, experiment, and grow. This milestone year is our way of celebrating that journey — from one tiny idea to a global festival that inspires millions to create, share, and dream bigger every year.”
National Award-winning filmmaker Dibakar Banerjee, part of this year’s filmmaking jury, shared, “Storytelling has always been about curiosity, and IFP thrives on that. As a filmmaker, I’ve always believed that cinema must surprise you. Fifteen years in, IFP continues promoting that spirit of curiosity — that’s what makes it special. I’m loving being a part of the jury this year.”
Acclaimed actor Sheeba Chaddha, a member of the Performing Arts Jury, added, “There’s something truly joyful about IFP, and it’s always a pleasure to associate with the team. What I love most about the festival is how it empowers artists to express and evolve without limits. As an actor, I’m drawn to spaces that nurture creativity without fear or formula, and IFP has built that beautifully over the years.”
Since its inception, IFP has hosted over 1.2 lakh participants, 1400 speakers, and creators from eight countries, earning its place among the largest global gatherings for creative enthusiasts. Over the past 14 years, it has welcomed iconic names like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Schulman, Alexander Payne, Asif Kapadia, Mira Nair, Ira Glass, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Tripathi, Javed Akhtar, Vicky Kaushal, Ayushmann Khurrana, and Taapsee Pannu, among many others.
As it turns 15, IFP promises to make this edition one for the books — a festival where art, ideas, and imagination meet in the most unexpected ways.
Save the dates: November 29–30, 2025, at Mehboob Studios, Mumbai.
