#IFFIWood, 28 November 2025

Ladies and gentlemen…

Get on your toes, charge the air, and unleash those power claps!

IFFI’s crown jewel, the Golden Peacock is all set to find its new nest!

The Vietnamese film “Skin of Youth” bags the most prestigious award of IFFI, the ‘Golden Peacock’ for Best Feature Film at a glittering Closing ceremony today in Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Goa. The award was presented by the Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant and the Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. L. Murugan.

Director Ashleigh Mayfair and Producer Trần Thị Bích Ngọc, Ash Mayfair, Fran Borgia will share the Golden Peacock Trophy, a certificate, and a cash prize of Rs. 40,00,000.

🏆 Golden Peacock – Best Feature Film at #IFFI2025 goes to the film 'Skin of Youth' directed by Ash Mayfair,#GoldenPeacock #IFFI56 #IFFIGoa pic.twitter.com/PL77hTZPzF

— PIB in Goa 🇮🇳 (@PIB_Panaji) November 28, 2025

Set in 1990s Saigon, the film explores the intense romance between San, a transgender sex worker dreaming of a sex-change surgery, and Nam, an underground cage fighter who fights to support her son. San is determined to live as a woman, while Nam endures brutal fights to earn money for her surgery. Their love faces harsh challenges as they confront violent underground worlds, societal prejudices, and the dark forces, that will cost them their relationship.

Commenting on the film, the Jury said, “Captivating from the very first frame, with inspired cinematography and bold production design, the Director draws extraordinary performances from the two remarkable leads. Every element—evocative music, skilful editing, and meticulous craft—comes together seamlessly. Bold and brave, stunning and stylish, this film explores love and sacrifice in a world few of us ever glimpse. It is a work that will linger in our minds for a long time to come.”

While talking about the film at a Presser earlier, Director Ashleigh Mayfair said, “It is a deeply personal story. I am one of the three siblings, and my younger sibling is a transgender. The film explores her journey—her dignity, her rights, her fears, and her identity. In her story, I believe many in the transgender community will see themselves.”

This year, fifteen fiction feature films, representing a vibrant landscape of global cinema were competing for the coveted Golden Peacock Award.

Watch the trailer here:

Check out their interaction with the media during a Press Conference here:

Watch the Closing Ceremony:

About IFFI

Born in 1952, the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) stands tall as South Asia’s oldest and largest celebration of cinema. Jointly hosted by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), State Government of Goa, the festival has grown into a global cinematic powerhouse—where restored classics meet bold experiments, and legendary maestros share space with fearless first-timers. What makes IFFI truly sparkle is its electric mix—international competitions, cultural showcases, masterclasses, tributes, and the high-energy WAVES Film Bazaar, where ideas, deals and collaborations take flight. Staged against Goa’s stunning coastal backdrop from November 20–28, the 56th edition promises a dazzling spectrum of languages, genres, innovations, and voices—an immersive celebration of India’s creative brilliance on the world stage.

For more information, Click on:

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2193856&reg=3&lang=2

IFFI Website: https://www.iffigoa.org/

PIB’s IFFI Microsite: https://www.pib.gov.in/iffi/56/

PIB IFFIWood Broadcast Channel:  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaEiBaML2AU6gnzWOm3F

X Handles: @IFFIGoa, @PIB_India, @PIB_Panaji

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PIB IFFI CAST AND CREW | Ritu Shukla/Swadhin Shaktiprasad/Darshana Rane | IFFI 56 - 114