MUMBAI, July 14 (Xinhua) -- India may invite Russia as the country of focus for its 50th International Film Festival on Nov. 20-28 in the southwestern state of Goa, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar said on Sunday.

The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) features a Country of Focus every year that brings out the cinematic excellence and contributions of that particular country. In its 49th edition of the film festival last year, the Country of Focus was Israel.

The list of films to be shown will be finalized by September to give sufficient time for cinema lovers to plan their visit and attend the festival, the minister said after chairing a coordination meeting for the festival.

The festival aims at providing a common platform to the world of cinema to project the excellence of the art of filmmaking.

The key sections at the IFFI include International Competition, Festival Kaleidoscope, World Panorama, Indian Panorama, Masterclasses, In-conversations, Special Retrospectives, Homages, Open Air Screenings, Film Bazaar - organized by the National Film Development Corporation, according to the Press Information Bureau of the Indian government.

U.S. cinematographer and film director and President of Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, John Bailey, has confirmed his participation in this year's film festival, it said.