7 Film Festivals Across India We’re Looking Forward To In 2019
What’s incredible about film festivals, and why they are so important, is the equal platform they provide. It can be a levelling effect for movies of all subjects, budgets and ‘star power’. Here, you get all kinds of cinematic gems in one space, one platform with equal focus. These are often films that touch upon subjects the ‘mainstream’ may not be comfortable with, others don’t get enough distribution no matter how much people may want to watch it without ‘power’ backing it.
There is a certain kind of thrill in the air when a film festival is going on with creativity flowing, panels and talks creating important conversations between the budding and veteran creators and enthusiasts alike. More and more film festivals have been popping up around the country and we couldn’t be happier! There something for everyone – from different formats and languages to films that address an array of subjects right from political satires and dark comedies, to touching short films and hard-hitting social documentaries, and more. We’ve put together our recommendations of film festivals you just can’t miss out on this year.
I. KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival
June
Founded in 2010, Kashish has grown to be the biggest queer film festivals in South Asia. From features and short films to documentaries and experimental films, Kashish showcases the diverse voices, realities and complexities of queer life in India and abroad. Founder Festival Director Sridhar Rangayan has always championed a celebration of LGBTQ identities and Kashish uses cinema as a means to entertain as much as educate the audience, create change and make us think.
It has become a place for creative freedom and expressions of a community that has sidelined and silenced for a large part of independent India’s history.
Find more information about the festival on their website here.
II. Jio MAMI Film Festival
October
The Mumbai Film Festival is an annual film festival, a gathering for the independent film fraternity whether you’re simply an individual interested in the plethora of films MAMI has to offer, a budding filmmaker, or a member of the film industry — there’s something for everyone here. Organised by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Images (MAMI), the festival runs for a week across Mumbai city and also hosts a variety of panels, workshops and masterclasses with industry veterans like Anurag Kashyap, Raja Sen, Monica Belucci and Darren Aronofsky to name a few.
Find more information about the festival on their website here.
III. The Open Frame Film Festival
September
The Open Frame Film Festival organised by PSBT – a non-profit NGO that mentors and supports independent filmmakers across the country – is held every year in the country’s capital. The festival usually takes place in September, at the India International Centre in New Delhi. In the last 18 years, PSBT has done an exemplary job of exploring a wide range of themes like human rights, feminism, development, gender, etc. that showcase the existing ground reality of the country. The lineup of films from India and around the world each never never fail to impress.
Keep updated with the festival details and new schedule on their website.
IV. Dharamshala International Film Festival
October/November
As stated by Adil Hussain, the Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) truly is a festival that focuses watching films and meeting people with no frills attached to the events. DIFF held it’s first edition back in 2012 and has now become a successful yearly event that lovers of film look forward to each year. The stunning landscape of McLeod Ganj makes a wonderful host for the wonderfully curated film schedule.
Find all details of the festival on the website here.
V. International Film Festival of India
November
One of the most significant film festivals of Asia, the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) takes place yearly right from its inception in 1952. In 2004 it was shifted to Goa and is said to have been the first international film festival to be held anywhere in Asia. Over the years IFFI has become an institution of its own drawing in crowds from around the world, having hosted some of the most critically acclaimed films. IFFI is truly an experience that should not be missed out on.
Stay updated with IFFI’s schedule for the upcoming festival this year on the website.
VI. CMS Vatavaran Film Festival and Forum
November
This unique initiative is India’s only international environment and wildlife film festival, organised by Centre for Media Studies (CMS). The main competition is scheduled to be held in New Delhi this year in November (it happens every two years) and they have opened entries with the theme for this year, which is also their 10th edition, being ‘Celebrating Himalayas’. The festival has used this platform to bring together conservation experts, wildlife lovers and enthusiasts and showcase how film and art can be used as a tool of impact, instigating real change.
Find more information on their website here.
VII. VIBGYOR International Film Festival
August
Held annually in Thrissur, Kerala, the VIBGYOR International Film Festival is organised by the VIBGYOR Film Collective and has established itself as an international festival move lovers look forward to for their selection of documentaries and short films. Celebrating identities and diversities is the core belief of the VIBGYOR team and they do the very same through the work they showcase, the spectrum of which focuses on identities, human rights, environment and development, gender and sexuality, culture and media among others.
Unfortunately we missed out on the festival in 2018 following the devastating floods in Kerala.
Follow them here and stay tuned about the festival.
Feature image used for representational purposes. Source: HelloTravel.
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