Will AP’s Avakai Festival Achieve what IFFI did for Goa?

Andhra Pradesh is set to host a film festival named “The Avakai Cinema, Culture and Literature Festival” from 8 to 10 January 2026 at Punnami Ghat and Bhavani Island in Vijayawada. The festival is a major step in the state’s effort to create a large, recurring cultural event similar to Goa’s Indian International Film Festival (IFFI), but one that is clearly rooted in Telugu language, cinema, and culture.

Announced by Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh, Avakai is planned as an open and inclusive festival that brings together Telugu films, literature, music, theatre, and folk arts in a shared public space, with the entry being free of cost, thus making the festival accessible to everyone. The idea is to take culture out of closed halls and place it in everyday public spaces. This approach closely mirrors the approach taken by IFFI that helped Goa grow into a well-known centre for cinema by making film culture a part of the public life among the locals.

What makes this film festival stand out is its clear focus on Tollywood. Even though AP and Telangana share the same language and film industry, Telangana has not created a similar state-supported festival that promotes Telugu cinema as a long-term cultural identity. AP is now building on the popularity and reach of Tollywood to create a cultural platform that belongs to the state and can grow into a landmark event with every passing year.

The festival is being organised by the AP Tourism Department along with Teamwork Arts. This fits into the state government’s larger goal of developing Amaravati as a renowned hub for culture and literature. Minister Durgesh also pointed to the importance of the coveted Nandi Awards, which have long recognised excellence in Telugu cinema. Avakai is meant to add to this legacy by offering a space where filmmakers, writers, artists, and audiences can meet and interact directly, something award ceremonies alone cannot provide or replicate.

Officials have also highlighted the wider benefits of hosting such festivals. Tourism Secretary Ajay Jain said that using public spaces for different art forms helps protect cultural traditions while allowing new ideas to grow. Amrapali Kata, the APTDC Managing Director added that cultural festivals also boost tourism, support local businesses, and create jobs.

With similar events planned in Gandikota, Araku, and Visakhapatnam, Avakai has the potential to become AP’s cultural identity, much like IFFI is for Goa, driven by Telugu storytelling and promotion of local folklore and cinema pieces.