Background and Present Status
The Directorate of Film Festivals, commonly known as DFF, was established in 1973 under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
It was created to promote Indian cinema by organising national and international film festivals and administering major film awards.
The Directorate no longer functions as a separate organisation. Its functions were transferred to the National Film Development Corporation as part of the restructuring of the Union Government’s film-related institutions.
The festival-related responsibilities of the former Directorate are now largely performed through the festival divisions of NFDC under the supervision of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Major Functions
The Directorate was responsible for promoting artistic, regional and non-commercial cinema in India and abroad.
Its principal functions included:
- organising the International Film Festival of India;
- administering the National Film Awards;
- administering the Dadasaheb Phalke Award;
- organising Indian film festivals in different countries;
- facilitating India’s participation in international film festivals;
- organising retrospective screenings of important filmmakers;
- promoting regional and independent cinema;
- supporting cultural exchange through films.
It also provided a platform for films that possessed artistic or social value but had limited access to commercial distribution.
International Film Festival of India
The International Film Festival of India, known as IFFI, is one of the most important film festivals organised by the Government of India.
The first edition was held in 1952. It is currently held annually in Goa and brings together Indian and international filmmakers, actors, critics and cinema professionals.
The festival generally includes:
- international and Indian film competitions;
- premieres and special screenings;
- retrospectives and tributes;
- masterclasses and panel discussions;
- restored and classic films;
- films from a selected country or thematic region.
IFFI promotes cultural exchange and provides Indian filmmakers with exposure to global cinema and international markets.
Awards and Promotion of Indian Cinema
The Directorate played a central role in organising the selection process for the National Film Awards and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Independent juries evaluated entries across feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema. The Directorate coordinated film submissions, jury screenings, documentation and award ceremonies.
It also promoted Indian cinema abroad through:
- participation in international festivals;
- cultural-exchange programmes;
- curated film packages;
- retrospectives of Indian filmmakers;
- coordination with Indian diplomatic missions.
These activities helped introduce regional-language and independent Indian films to international audiences.
Institutional Restructuring
The merger of the Directorate’s functions with NFDC formed part of a wider restructuring involving the:
- Directorate of Film Festivals;
- Films Division;
- National Film Archive of India;
- Children’s Film Society, India.
The restructuring sought to place film production, promotion, preservation and festival administration under a more integrated institutional framework.
Its potential advantages include:
- reduced administrative duplication;
- better coordination of film-related activities;
- unified promotion of Indian cinema;
- improved use of infrastructure and resources;
- closer integration with the film industry.
However, concerns remain regarding the preservation of specialised expertise, institutional autonomy, transparency in film selection and continued support for regional and non-commercial cinema.
Conclusion
The Directorate of Film Festivals played an important role in recognising cinematic excellence and promoting Indian films nationally and internationally. Although it no longer exists as a separate organisation, its core responsibilities continue within NFDC and remain central to India’s cultural diplomacy and film-promotion policy.
The current institutional status was verified from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s official Films Wing and NFDC records.
