Spain will be Guest Country of Honor at the 57th International Film Festival of India

Spain will be Guest Country of Honor at the 57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI Goa) in 2026, as agreed this Monday by the Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, in a meeting with representatives of the festival held in New Delhi (India).

The Indian Film Festival is one of the great cinema events in Asia, in addition to being the oldest and most prestigious film competition on this continent, which brings together the audiovisual sector from more than 80 countries around the world.

The appointment will take place during the month of November and it is the only one in Asia accredited by the International Federation of Producers Associations (FIAPF). The presence of Spain in it, according to the Ministry of Culture, has the objective of contribute to the dissemination of Spanish cinema in the Asian marketas well as reinforce Spain’s positioning as a European production and filming hub, and give visibility to the professional film sector in one of the most dynamic audiovisual markets in the world, such as the Indian one.

To promote the participation of Spain as a Guest Country in the 57th International Film Festival of India, A delegation made up of professionals from the sector will travel to Goa to develop a program of events and screeningsin addition to participating in professional forums and business meetings.

During his trip to New Delhi, Urtasun also met with a group of producers, screenwriters, directors and actors, representatives of the professional independent film sector in India. With them he has addressed the update of the bilateral film co-production agreement between Spain and Indiavalid since 2012.

Through this agreement, the film sector of both countries is provided with a framework that favors co-productions, giving them access to tax incentives, public aid and distribution circuits in both film markets.

Likewise, during this meeting other mechanisms and opportunities for cooperation in audiovisual material were discussed, as well as the system of tax incentives for cinema that Spain has.

SPAIN-INDIA DUAL YEAR

During his visit to the Indian capital, Ernest Urtasun also held a meeting with the Indian Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. At the meeting, both ministers addressed the Spain-India Dual Yearwhich is celebrated throughout 2026 and has culture as one of its three main axes.

Ernest Urtasun and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat have discussed the priorities of each country in terms of culture and how to open new avenues of collaboration and internationalizationboth from art and from cultural professionals in Spain and India.

The Indian agenda has been completed with a visit to the Cervantes Institute in New Delhiwhere he has been able to learn first-hand about the extensive program of activities carried out by this center to spread Spanish culture and language in the Asian country.

The activity with which this Dual Year started was the New Delhi International Book Fair with Spain as the Focus Country, and inaugurated last Saturday, January 10, by Urtasun, and the Indian Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan.

Until January 18, a program of literary and professional activities will be held at this Fair, with the presence of a delegation of Spanish authors and editors. This Book Fair will be followed by a complete program of activities in both countries, which will be announced soon and will revolve around the fields of culture, tourism and artificial intelligence.

This Dual Year has, among others, the objective of expanding cultural ties between both countries, promoting cultural cooperation and strengthening the cultural exchange program.