IFP, one of the world’s largest gatherings for creators, is set to celebrate its fifteenth edition with its most extensive and diverse speaker line-up to date. Scheduled for November 29 and 30 at Mehboob Studios, Mumbai, IFP Season 15 will bring together leading voices from film, music, literature, design, photography, gaming, digital media, and culinary arts under its central theme of Creativity × Culture.
Across two days, the festival will present a curated mix of conversations, masterclasses, performances, and cultural experiences, reaffirming its position as Mumbai’s premier multi-disciplinary creative platform.
Comprehensive Film & Streaming Programming
The Film and Streaming category features a notable array of actors, directors, editors, and creators including Shahid Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Adarsh Gourav, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Shefali Shah, Raja Kumari, Ananya Panday, Richa Chadha, Shilpa Rao, Vasan Bala, Hansal Mehta, and Gurinder Chadha, among others.
Key sessions include:
- 20 Questions: How I Made My First Feature
- Vaibhav Munjal Podcast LIVE ft. Siddhant Chaturvedi
- Being the Future of Indian Cinema
- 10 Things We Learned While Contemporising Indian History
- Behind The Scene: I Am Not an Actor
- How I Create Magic on the Editing Table
- AMA // Documenting Geniuses to Directing Madness
- Craft, Creativity, and ‘Absolute Cinema’
- Bringing Back Old-School Romance ft. Gustaakh Ishq
- Craft, Creativity, and Sculpting Realistic Characters
- The festival’s marquee session, Becoming Arjun, featuring Abhishek Bachchan and Shoojit Sircar
Speaking about his participation, Abhishek Bachchan said: “Becoming Arjun is a session I am genuinely excited about. Arjun from I Want to Talk is a character who has stayed with me, and it will be great fun to sit with Shoojit Sircar and pull apart how we built him. IFP has always been a space where creators feel at home, and it’s great to be part of that community this year.”
Shahid Kapoor will also headline a session focused on his craft and cinematic journey.
Culture Segment Examines Contemporary Ideas and Trends
The Culture line-up explores how narratives, trends, and digital dialogues influence contemporary society.
Notable sessions include:
- Nuclear Takes // How Culture Gets Shaped
- Maya and the Making of Modern Lore
Chirag Thakkar noted: “IFP has always brought different creative worlds together, which is why I’m excited to be here this year. Talking about how culture shifts, online or offline, feels especially relevant right now, and I’m glad I get to be part of that conversation on a stage that welcomes so many perspectives together.”
Culinary Storytelling Through Food
The Food category will feature the session Food of the Future Past // Reviving Old Recipes, with Chef Ranveer Brar in conversation with Kunal Vijayakar, exploring culinary memory, heritage, and forgotten flavours.
Ranveer Brar shared, “I’ve always been drawn to the stories behind things, where they start, how they change, and the memories that shape them. Food of the Future Past lets me explore those layers almost like stepping into different roles, revisiting what we grew up with, left behind, and now want to return to. There’s a quiet poetry in that journey.”
Digital & Online Creation Discussions
The Digital category brings together voices shaping online discourse through sessions such as:
- Social Media Vigilantes | Consider Me De-influenced
- How To Create Compelling Video Essays
Literature, Performing Arts, Design & Photography
The Literary line-up spans fiction, translation, and contemporary writing with sessions including:
- Why the Poor Don’t Kill Us × Meet the Savarnas
- Behind The Book: Peeli Chhatari Wali Ladki
- Kahaani Nayiwali Hindi Ki
- From the Translator’s Diary
Additionally, the festival features:
- Poets of the Future Past ft. Kabir and Khusrau under Performing Arts
- Sessions on design and art including How I Designed the Team India Jersey
- Photography masterclasses such as Photographing the Wild and How I Take Breathtaking Drone Shots
Music Showcase with Legends and Emerging Artists
The Music segment includes:
- The Future of Music with Rolling Stone India
- Making of Kashi to Kailash with Raja Kumari
- Getting Fusion Right with Hariharan and Akshay Hariharan
- Bars from the Heart with Dino James
50 Hour Challenge Awards Return
IFP will also host the 50 Hour Challenge Award Ceremonies across filmmaking, music, design, photography, and writing, honouring standout work created within the festival’s iconic 50-hour format.
A Global Creative Legacy
With over 1,400 speakers, 1.2 lakh participants, and representation from eight countries over the past 14 years, IFP continues to stand among the world’s largest festivals for creative professionals and enthusiasts. The festival has previously hosted Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Schulman, Alexander Payne, Asif Kapadia, Mira Nair, Ira Glass, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Tripathi, Vicky Kaushal, Taapsee Pannu, and several other noted creators.
Festival Dates
IFP Season 15 will take place on November 29 and 30 at Mehboob Studios, Mumbai. The detailed festival schedule is available on the official website.
