Goa: Vietnamese filmmaker Ash Mayfair’s Skin Of Youth claimed the Golden Peacock for Best Feature Film at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
The festival, held at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Bambolim, Goa, wrapped up on November 28 after nine days of screenings, masterclasses, and industry sessions.
Skin Of Youth stood out for its striking cinematography, detailed production design, evocative music, and seamless editing. The jury described it as captivating from the very first frame. The award was presented by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan. Along with the Golden Peacock trophy, the honour carried a cash prize of ₹40 lakh.
Set in 1990s Saigon, the film follows San, a young person determined to save enough money for a gender affirmation surgery. Her lover Nam, fighting in underground dog-cage matches, supports this dream while unaware of the emotional and moral costs the future may bring. The story unfolds through their struggles, hopes, and the looming impact on their relationship.
‘Skin of Youth’ wins the Golden Peacock for ‘Best Feature Film’ at #IFFI2025.#IFFI #IFFI56 #IFFIGoa pic.twitter.com/FkV5oLaJIc
— Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (@MIB_India) November 28, 2025
The cast features Trân Quân, Võ Diên Gia Huy, Phan Thi Kim Ngân, Hajime Inoue, and Hoang Le Cong. The film is jointly produced by Fran Borgia, Ash Mayfair, Thi Bich Ngoc Tran, and Kayo Yoshida, with Chananun Chotrungroj handling cinematography and Julie Béziau overseeing makeup.
A highlight of the evening was the special tribute to megastar Rajinikanth, who completed five decades in Indian cinema. With more than 170 films across Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada, the veteran actor was visibly emotional as he reflected on his journey. He said he wished for many more lifetimes as an actor, a sentiment that drew warm applause from the audience.
Celebrations Across Categories
The festival showcased a diverse selection of global and Indian cinema, recognising excellence across languages and genres. Key awards included:
- Best Director: Santosh Davakhar for the Marathi thriller Gondhal.
- Best Actor (Male): Ubeimar Ríos for the Colombian film A Poet.
- Best Actor (Female): Jara Sofija Ostan for the Slovenian drama Little Trouble Girls.
- Both acting honours included a cash prize of ₹10 lakh.
The Best Debut Feature Film award was shared by Hesam Farahmand for the Iranian film My Daughter’s Hair and Tõnis Pill for the Estonian feature Fränk. The Special Jury Award went to Akinola Davies Jr for My Father’s Shadow, a UK-Nigerian co-production.
🔥 Fifty Years of Pure Rajni Magic! 🔥
As #IFFI2025 celebrates 50 glorious years of Rajinikanth, we honour a legend who reimagined heroism, elevated storytelling and connected with millions through sheer charisma and heart.
From breaking box-office records to redefining Indian… pic.twitter.com/jBRCBkZXAS
— PIB in Goa 🇮🇳 (@PIB_Panaji) November 28, 2025
UNESCO Honour for Safe House
In partnership with the International Council for Film, Television and Audiovisual Communication, IFFI awarded the ICFT–UNESCO Gandhi Medal to Norwegian filmmaker Eirik Svensson for Safe House.
Set during the 2013 civil war in the Central African Republic, the film’s real-time narrative highlights the moral dilemmas confronted by humanitarian workers. The jury praised its sensitive and timely portrayal.
Among Indian selections, Karan Singh Tyagi won the award for Best Debut Director of an Indian Feature Film for Kesari Chapter 2. Meanwhile, Bandish Bandits Season 2 from Amazon Prime Video secured the award for Best Web Series, reflecting the growing influence of streaming platforms.
The closing ceremony drew an array of notable personalities, including Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju, jury chair Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, festival director Shekhar Kapur, and actors Ranveer Singh and Rishab Shetty.
