A carousel of 215 films spanning 39 countries would be showcased at the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), scheduled from November 6 to 12 here, with Poland as the focus country, the organisers said today.

This year's edition promises to be a vibrant confluence of cultures, with features, shorts and documentaries in 18 Indian and 30 foreign languages set to be screened across 21 venues.

The grand opening ceremony at the Dhana Dhanya auditorium will be graced by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bollywood star Shatrughan Sinha and director Ramesh Sippy, with actress Sharmila Tagore also likely to be present. , continuing the city's cherished cinematic tradition. Incidentally, Sippy directed classic action film Sholay completed 50 years in 2025.

The media conference was addressed by state Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Aroop Biswas, tourism minister-cum-singer Indranil Sen and a host of Bengali film celebrities, including the evergreen actor Prosenjit Chatterjee.

This year, the curtain rises with the timeless Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen masterpiece "Saptapadi", setting the perfect tone for a festival rooted in Bengal's cinematic soul. Announcing the festival lineup at the cultural complex Rabindra Sadan, Biswas said this year's edition aims to strike a balance between remembrance and renewal.

In its centenary tributes, KIFF 2025 will honour legendary artists Ritwik Ghatak, Richard Burton, Salil Chowdhury and Sam Penkinpah.