As we approach this year’s International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), it’s worth taking a look at some standout titles from the global festival circuit—films that have sparked conversations, won prestigious accolades, or left lasting emotional impressions.
Here’s a curated list of eight films that I feel you shouldn’t miss at IFFK 2025, along with a few additional recommendations for those who want to explore further.
1. It Was Just an Accident – Jafar Panahi
Those who’ve been tracking this year’s festival circuit will already be excited about the arrival of this film. Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident, winner of the Palm d’Or at Cannes, is a masterful blend of humor and gravitas.
Although the film sustains a light comedic tone throughout, the subject it deals with is profoundly serious. Panahi places the element of humanity at the film’s core, and its use of sound design in the climax is so memorable that it’s impossible to forget once experienced.
2. Sirat – Directed by Oliver Laxe
The second film on the list is one that made a far greater impact than many expected. Oliver Laxe’s Sirat draws its title from “Sirat-ul-Mustaqeem,” the bridge referenced in the Quran, symbolizing a spiritual journey.
Though the film does not explicitly specify its time period or location, its narrative pulls you in through a deeply immersive journey. Laxe’s craft in building tension is truly remarkable here—Sirat is a masterclass in intriguing storytelling that keeps you locked in its spell.
3. No Other Choice – Park Chan-wook
Highly anticipated film of this year, Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice is a dark comedy with the director’s characteristic precision. The film extracts humor from micro-elements within scenes, escalating its narrative in unexpected ways that are a delight to watch. Beneath the laughs lies a tense survival story, but the signature touch of black comedy gives it a unique texture.
4. Sentimental Value – Joachim Trier
Joachim Trier’s latest offering tells the story of two daughters and the uneasy relationship they share with the father who abandoned them when they were young.
While the story arc may feel familiar, the film resonates emotionally because of how it explores why the relationship deteriorated and how deeply its consequences have shaped the characters. This is Norway’s official Oscar entry for this year.
5. Father Mother Sister Brother – Anthology Film
The fifth recommendation is an anthology consisting of three short films. Starting with humor and gradually travelling toward more emotional territory, the anthology’s graph moves steadily upward.
What makes it particularly engaging is how the same elements recur across each segment but are used differently every time, creating clever variations in tone and meaning. The smart use of silence and understated humor keeps the film consistently absorbing.
6. Alpha – Directed by Julia Ducournau
Alpha is Julia Ducournau’s third venture into the world of body-horror fantasy, and as expected, it is intense, visceral, and unsettling.
The film relies heavily on a major narrative reveal—one that appears only in the final stretch. Because of that, viewers should pay close attention to every scene. Alpha is the kind of film whose true impact becomes apparent only when you backtrack it after the climax.
7. Dreams – Part of a Trilogy
Stories about adolescent transformation appear at every film festival, but this year’s most beautiful entry in that category is Dreams. Although it is part of a trilogy along with Sex and Love, the films are thematically linked rather than story. So you can watch them independently.
While dealing with themes of sexuality and self-discovery, Dreams unfolds primarily through open and relaxed conversations. It won the Golden Bear for Best Film at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival.
8. A Poet – Colombian Cinema
The last film on the list is a moving Colombian tragicomedy. A Poet recently won the Best Actor Award at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), with Ubaymar Rios delivering a stirring performance as the central character.
The film follows Oscar, a man who helps someone else achieve what he himself never could—and ends up paying a heavy price for it. By the time the story ends, it is impossible not to feel empathy for him.
Additional Recommendations
If you want to explore even further, here are four more engaging films screening this year—each memorable in its own way:
- My Father’s Shadow
- Little Trouble Girls
- Amrum
- The Blue Trail
These films offer diverse themes and strong storytelling—worth adding to your IFFK schedule if time permits.