- HOMEGROWN WORLD
- #HGCREATORS
- #HGEXPLORE
- #HGVOICES
- #HGSHOP
- CAREERS
- ABOUT US
- CONTACT US
StoneX Global’s Mastery film festival comes to Mumbai on May 8–9, 2026 at Ice Factory Ballard Estate. Featuring artists like Rima Das, Anita Ratnam, and V. Selvaganesh, the series explores artistic process, discipline, and creative evolution through immersive storytelling.
Künstlerroman, German for ‘artist’s novel’, is a subgenre of the Bildungsroman (or coming-of-age novel) that focuses on the maturation, psychological development, and creative awakening of an artist. Originating in German Romanticism, the subgenre traces the protagonist’s journey from childhood to artistic maturity, often highlighting their alienation from societal norms as they pursue their craft. I have always been fascinated by künstlerromans and their cinematic counterparts.
While cultural films about artists are not exactly alike, I find them equally compelling for much the same reasons: they take us into an artist’s psyche, offering glimpses into their inner workings. StoneX Global’s cultural film festival ‘Mastery’ is a celebration of seven such films. The festival opens with a preview on 8 May at the Ice Factory Ballard Estate (IFBE), and opens to the public the following day, ahead of the series’ launch on streaming platforms.
Conceived as a long-form cultural documentation project that traces the lives of individuals shaped by decades of artistic discipline and sustained creative practice, ‘Mastery’ turns its attention to process, rigour, and legacy — foregrounding the environments, routines, and inner journeys that define a life in the arts. The preview, beginning at 6:00 PM, will bring audiences into close conversation with featured artists from Season 2 of ‘Mastery’, including V. Selvaganesh, the Grammy-winning musician known for expanding Carnatic rhythm traditions globally; Rima Das, whose independent cinema is marked by emotional clarity and observational depth; and Anita Ratnam, a pioneering figure working at the intersection of Bharatanatyam and contemporary performance. The evening will include artist interactions, a panel discussion, and curated screenings from the new season. It will also bring together voices from across both seasons, including Lekha Washington and Priya Malik, creating a cross-disciplinary dialogue around artistic practice.
Over its two seasons, ‘Mastery’ features 18 artists from diverse media and disciplines, including music, literature, visual art, performance, and culinary practice. Season 1 includes names such as Rishab Sharma, Sarah Todd, Vibha Galhotra, and Subodh Kerkar, while Season 2 expands the roster with figures like Ruskin Bond, Usha Uthup, Shubha Mudgal, and Krishen Khanna — collectively framing mastery as a lifelong, evolving engagement with one’s craft.
Following the invite-only preview, ‘Mastery’ will open to the public on 9 May 2026, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM, at the same venue, transforming the space into a truly immersive film festival.
Venue: Ice Factory Ballard Estate (IFBE), 10-12, Calicut Rd, Ballard Estate, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001.
The festival will be open to the public on 9th May, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Ice Factory, Ballard Estate (IFBE), Mumbai.
Follow @stonexglobal on Instagram to learn more.
If you enjoyed reading this, here’s more from Homegrown:
Raf Saperra’s New Short Film Is A Glimpse Into His Inner World As A Performing Artist
How Eric Andre & Prateek Rajagopal Created A Film Score For Films That Don’t Exist
The 2025 Stonex Art Soirée Was A Celebration Of Sculpture, Design & Craftsmanship
