The Cinevesture International Film Festival (CIFF) is set to return for its second edition in Chandigarh, India, from March 20-23, 2025. With an extensive lineup of international and regional films, as well as an expanded industry platform, the festival aims to solidify its place on the global cinema calendar.
French director Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez,” an Oscar-winning film, will be among the headliners of the World Canvas section, alongside Magnus von Horn’s Oscar-nominated Danish drama “The Girl with the Needle.” The festival opens with the Indian premiere of “A Normal Family,” the Korean drama by Hur Jin-ho that made its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. The opening night will also include a special screening of the Punjabi short “The Cycle” by Arpita Mukherjee.
CIFF’s World Canvas section will showcase 15 international features, while the India Unveiled category will highlight 17 homegrown titles. Special screenings and student films will complement the festival’s programming. The Indian selection includes works from Dibakar Banerjee (“Tees”), Vetrimaaran (“Viduthalai Part 2”), Tigmanshu Dhulia (“Ghamasaan”), and Raam Reddy (“The Fable”). Ankur Singla’s “Fathers & Sons” will have its world premiere, while Kaushal Oza’s “Little Thomas,” featuring Gulshan Devaiah and Rasika Dugal, will debut in India.
The international lineup includes “Brief History of a Family” from China, Mati Diop’s “Dahomey,” Lawrence Valin’s “Little Jaffna,” George Sikharulidze’s “Panopticon,” and Yeo Siew Hua’s “Stranger Eyes.” These selections reflect a broad range of perspectives in contemporary cinema.
This year’s edition will also honor the late Indian filmmaker Shyam Benegal with screenings of three of his films: “Manthan,” “Mammo,” and “The Seventh Horse of the Sun.” Regional cinema will have a strong presence, with Aditya Watts’ Haryanvi feature “Bronzed (Kaansya)” and two Punjabi debut films—Zubin Mehta’s “Bus No. 7” and Ankur Singla’s “Fathers & Sons”—representing local storytelling traditions.
Festival director V.S. Kundu emphasized CIFF’s focus on a broad cinematic spectrum, stating, “The festival will showcase a mix of celebrated international films, regional Indian cinema, and lesser-known gems from Haryana and Punjab, offering viewers an immersive cinematic experience.” Artistic director Bina Paul added, “The people of Chandigarh are in for a treat with a lineup that caters to both devoted cinephiles and audiences discovering new cinema.”
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CinéV Market Expands Industry Reach
Running alongside the festival, the CinéV Market will serve as a hub for industry professionals, connecting filmmakers with investors, distributors, and production houses. The market has curated a selection of 22 films spanning multiple languages and genres.
Among the projects selected for the market are works by Vikramaditya Motwane, Hansal Mehta, Honey Trehan, Richa Chadha, Jeo Baby, Manju Warrier, and Prasanna Vithanage. Many of these films focus on women-driven narratives, with contributions from Radhika Apte, Nandita Das, Shonali Bose, and Kani Kusruti.
Highlighting Punjab’s cinematic landscape, the lineup includes Honey Trehan’s “The Blade Runner,” Shashank Walia’s “Hanere De Panchhi,” and Ajitpal Singh’s “Marx and Lenin.” The market will also feature an animated anthology, “Table for One,” produced by actor Dhruv Sehgal.
Namrata Joshi, the curator of the project market, noted the increase in submissions: “The growth in both quantity and quality of entries has been remarkable. This year’s selection presents a wide array of storytelling—from thrillers to romances, psychological dramas to absurd comedies. We have narratives that explore everything from political histories to deeply personal struggles.”
The festival is launching the CinéV-IFFLA initiative in partnership with the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA). This collaboration will allow selected South Asian projects to be integrated into IFFLA’s Industry Days, scheduled for May 2025, where filmmakers will gain access to Hollywood producers through pitch competitions, masterclasses, and networking events.
CIFF founder and CEO Nina Lath Gupta highlighted the market’s role in connecting filmmakers and investors, likening film financing to startup investments: “Investing in film production has become a viable diversification strategy. With curated selections, we aim to build confidence among investors in the potential of cinema as an asset class.”
