Opening & Closing Films

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Danny Goes Aum (Live Only Opening Night Film followed by Q&A w/Filmmaker)

A burned-out Britisher travels to the same beach town in Goa where his hippie parents had met back in the 70s. And learns about himself and the purpose of his life.

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How is that for a Monday? (Online Exclusive India Film Festival Closing Night Premiere)

A fateful Monday changes the lives of a billionaire, a gang of thieves, an old man, and an immigrant techie. Racism and social disparities hit several satirical notes. Film will be available online only for 6 hours starting 4pm - 10pm India Time.

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Documentaries

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War and Worship

Under Subhas Chandra Bose, Durga in Bengal became Deshmatrika, an emblem of the Swadeshi movement during the freedom struggle of India. The film gives a new insight into the life and times of the armed revolution of that era.

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Moving Homes

Moving Homes provides a raw look into the hazardous lives of nomadic tribes from the desert state of Rajasthan.

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Sadai Fakirer Pathshala

Tutoring poor students in the village of Gushkara in West Bengal for last 20 years Shri Sujit Chatterjee was awarded Padma Shri in 2021. Also, he won Dadagiri!

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Mi Draupadi Murmu

India’s first President of tribal heritage, Shri Draupadi Murmu struggled her way up a difficult ladder from a small village in Uparbeda, Orissa to the top. Can Neha do the same?

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Kathakali – Behind The Superhuman Form

Liju Mathew John takes you behind the scenes of Kathakali, a traditional art form from Kerala, that has captivated audiences for centuries. With stunning visuals and compelling storytelling offers an enthralling cinematic experience.

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Buddhist Altar – NC

A masterpiece Buddhist House Altar has been at Asian Art Museum in Berlin since 1936. This film tries to discover the origin of the Buddhist House Altar and finds various aspects and rituals related to the altars in Nepal.

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Panjang Umur Sampah – NC (Long-Lived Plastic!)

Toni Konde and his community, Wayang Sampah voice their environmental concerns amidst the never-ending cycle of industrialization and capitalism that churns out single-use plastic packaging relentlessly.

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Kalavathi – an endling!

A tribal women struggles to make a living and a mark for herself in a male-dominated domain. Does she achieve her goal?

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Myzrub

Tathagata, born deaf, later suffers from delusions. A mother's indefatigable struggle helps Tathagata to fight and survive.

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In search of Rituparno

Cinema portrays life. It is a panoramic view of dreams and desires. It creates a bond, and this filmmaker tries to establish that bond with Rituparno Ghosh.

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The First Ink

The beauty of Kalpa in Himachal Pradesh is enhanced by the presence of 105-year-old, Shyam Saran Negi, who is considered to be the first person to cast his vote in Independent India.

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Swayambara

The Right of Choice for Santhali women translates into respect for women, fundamental equality, and a sense of innate fulfillment.

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Features

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A Photographer Who Clicks Blur Photograph

A well-known photographer struggles to come to terms with glaucoma, and ends up creating a new artform.

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Tortoise Under The Earth

A Santhali couple grieving over the death of their daughter caused by Uranium mining. It’s a relentless onslaught of modernity of indigenous lives.

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The Road to Kuthriyar

An unlikely friendship develops between an urban wildlife researcher and the illiterate tribesman he recruits as a guide. Circumstances draw him into the tribesman's world, where he makes troubling discoveries.

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Powai

Powai is a triptych of - a domestic worker, a govt preschool teacher, and a software professional in Mumbai. In a fast-changing, chaotic, and often unforgiving urban landscape, their lives intersect in small, unexpected ways.

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Sarugugal (Withering)

Krishnamoorthy is obsessed with his wife’s belongings even a year after her demise. His obsession slowly starts affecting his son's family. His son and daughter in law try to find ways to help him move on.

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Koli Hesru (Chicken Curry)

A poor woman undergoes tremendous sacrifice to provide her ten-year-old daughter with the taste of chicken curry. Based on Koli Esru a short story by K T Chikkanna.

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Kasina Sara (A Chain of Gold Coins)

Sundaresh returns to the village to pursue sustainable farming. But this creates a rift with his brother. It’s a battle between ideals and reality.

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Inko Coffee (One more Coffee)

A divorced coffee shop owner stuck in a daily grind connects emotionally with a customer who comes in regularly to his coffee shop. But will the moments last?

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Shorts - Human spirit

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Athadu Adavini Jayinchadu (He Conquered the Jungle)

Raju decides to sell his land to overcome his financial burden. The local politician of his village is interested, but is that all?

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Undefined

He wants to be set free. He waits. But time moves rapidly. He struggles to find the right moment. But what he will do is unknown.

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Enjin

Enjin lets go of his comfortable life to fight for the environment. But the decision has disastrous consequences.

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Barota Bajleo Bajte Pare (A dream in dark night)

A chain smoker cannot quit. One night, exhausted, he returns to his small room and falls asleep. What happened after that?

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Adhashi

Jalinder wants to fake a tiger attack to secure government benefits. But fate has other ideas.

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Accha hua aap time pe aa gaye! (Thank God you’re on time!)

A police inspector finds himself in a fight between municipality officers and a girl for not wearing her mask. Each has their own version of the truth.

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Mur Ghurar Duronto Goti (The Horse From Heaven)

Kuxhol and Goti are going to the city. He tells everyone on the way how Goti is the fastest horse on Earth. What happens when people see that Goti is actually a donkey.

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Kuppai The Bunch of Human Error

A garbageman finds a gold chain. Will his honesty earn him bouquets or brickbats?

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Oru Kodaikaalathil

Muruva is a skilled mason who believes that houses have a soul. To overcome his financial burden, he goes to the city. What he does there is mysterious.

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Panaah

Kachru is a nobody. Shattered, he rejects social life and exiles himself in a garbage dumping ground. Then he finds hope. Is it too late?

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Draupadi

A play on Draupadi's ordeal is being rehearsed. Lines between fiction and reality get blurred for the Director. Does Krishna arrive? Or is Draupadi her own savior?

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Shorts - Relationships

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Oru Thallu Case

A delightful journey down memory lane to rediscover the magic of childhood. Infused additionally are the flavors of Malabar.

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Murad (A Wish)

A tale of a woman's desire in a society where the roles of men and women have been separated.

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Aye Kuyile

A mother’s dream is often not realized. Kayal wife of Chezhiyan, overhears her daughter Vetri’s dreams that she wants to experience with her husband Bharathi – and epiphany happens.

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3 Rounds

A new recruit finds the going tough. A social experiment helps him understand the mantra of success.

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The Changes

A doctor visits a restaurant and incidents from the past regurgitate in his patients.

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Road Blocked Ahead

Ayesha’s car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. She meets Meera who gives her company while the car is repaired. Then it becomes tough to let go!

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Tehri

Shanu's mother decides to make his favourite Tehri for him on Sunday. Little did she know how the day would turn.

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Mehrama

Shreya and Ajay host a festive gathering to celebrate the beginning of a new journey. Amidst the celebration, they confront the challenges that lie ahead and revisit the moments that define their relationship.

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Laal Hanso Wala Voh Gaana (Song of the Flamingoes)

Two ghosts try to reunite an estranged couple over the course of a night in the melancholic nightscape of Mumbai.

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Tatva

The art of pottery does have differing ideologies. A father and son realize!

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Shorts - Youthfulness

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The Last Rain

A Bengali mother dealing with her young daughter's special needs is a peek into how society tends to hide or portray mental health issues.

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Ankur

Nitin works in a tea shop where money is easy. Education burdens him! A tender encounter lays bare the sweet and sour of life.

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Danpatra (Donation Box)

A village teacher brings the Temple Donation Box into the school. And therein is a lesson.

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Pinky and Papa

Rajendra cannot believe what his daughter Pinky did. But Pinky manages to change Rajendra.

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Resonance

Harsh finds himself in a strange location. A doppelganger follows him. A chilling ending will leave you with scary questions.

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The Luminary Saplings

A roadside sapling endures all the unfortunate happenings in its life. We must help nature to provide succor to humankind.

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A Happy Pizza Day

Krishna the elder sibling to Shweta, needs to fulfil her demand to taste a pizza for the first time on her birthday. With crusty and cheesy bits will they be able to get their hands on it?

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Dugga (The Voyage)

Having left the village without telling Sudha, Dugga embarks on a journey that gets a release from the burden of friendship.

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Anali

Anali has to shoulder the household responsibilities since the passing of her mother. She discovers a secret about her father. Her acceptance provides emotional release.

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Waada (The Promise)

Shambu promises to buy a new dress for his daughter Ammu, who has made him proud by topping her class. But, can Shambu fulfill his promise?

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Karai Oram Oviyan

An event kicks off a series of consequences. And it's all good at the end!

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2023 Team

Core Team

  • Festival Director – Danji Thotapalli
  • Head of Programming – Nikita Hattangady
  • Head of Filmmaker Liaison – Christian Frost

Jury Board

  • Renata Keller, Filmmaker
  • Aditya Patwardhan, Filmmaker
  • Vinay Verma, Theater artiste & Actor
  • Manouj Kadaambh, Filmmaker
  • Dawn Sawyer, Advertising and Theater Arts
  • Pradeep Paga, Filmmaker

Technology

  • Koti Ramprasad
  • Yogesh Shrivastava
  • Bharti Mohanty

Programming Team

  • Pawan Janakiram
  • Sushma Kashyap
  • Adya Kumar
  • Avinash Dongre
  • Jayden Stith