Cannes Camera d’Or winner The President’s Cake will compete for the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal at this year’s International Film Festival of India in Goa, where ten features that reflect ideals of peace and intercultural dialogue are shortlisted for the honor. The 56th IFFI runs from November 20 to 28 in Panaji, with the Gandhi Medal presented in partnership with UNESCO’s affiliated council ICFT. Festival materials list The President’s Cake—an Iraqi debut by writer-director Hasan Hadi—among the contenders, bringing fresh momentum to a film that also won the Directors’ Fortnight audience award at Cannes.
The Gandhi Medal recognizes films with a strong ethical core and high artistic value, with organizers emphasizing themes aligned to non-violence, tolerance and dialogue. In recent editions, ten films have typically been nominated, with the winner unveiled at IFFI’s closing ceremony. This year’s IFFI program touts more than 240 titles from 81 countries, underscoring the award’s positioning within a broad international slate.
The President’s Cake arrives in Goa following a breakout festival run that included Cannes prizes and a growing footprint on the fall circuit. Industry updates note that sales and distribution interest strengthened after its Cannes reception, positioning the film for expanded exposure in Asia. While the Gandhi Medal is not a commercial award, it frequently heightens visibility for socially engaged titles in India and abroad.
According to a recent trade report, the film is one of ten Gandhi Medal contenders this year at IFFI, a recognition that places it alongside works chosen for their capacity to engage younger audiences on questions of ethics and civic life—an emphasis the partnering bodies have highlighted in festival communications. With IFFI set to open on November 20, the Gandhi Medal field adds an issues-driven lens to a week that will also showcase premieres, country focuses and career tributes.
