James Ivory Documentary, Manoj Bajpayee Starrer to Headline New York Indian Film Festival’s 25th Anniversary Slate

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For its 25th anniversary, the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) is laying out the red carpet, bringing together films from different eras that link legendary filmmaker James Ivory’s lasting interest in India with the current spotlight on Manoj Bajpayee, who stars in the festival’s opening night pick.

The 25th anniversary edition of the New York Independent Film Festival, taking place in Manhattan’s Village East by Angelika from June 20-22, will feature “An Arrested Moment,” a short documentary from The Metropolitan Museum of Art directed by Dev Benegal. This film delves into Ivory Coast’s historical connection with Indian art and culture.

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From June 20-22 at Manhattan’s Village East by Angelika, the New York Independent Film Festival’s landmark 25th edition will showcase “An Arrested Moment,” a short documentary produced by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and directed by Dev Benegal. This film offers an in-depth look into the longstanding relationship between Ivory Coast and Indian art and culture.

The festival commences with the first showing on the East Coast of “The Fable,” a movie starring renowned actor Manoj Bajpayee alongside Priyanka Bose and Deepak Dobriyal. This film is directed by Raam Reddy, who previously won the Golden Leopard at Locarno for his debut work “Thithi.” Originally premiered at the 2024 Berlinale, it makes its debut here.

This year’s selection showcases a deep respect for cinema history as well as anticipation for its upcoming milestones. The event will pay tribute to the late esteemed filmmaker Shyam Benegal by presenting a 4K restoration of his 1976 masterpiece, “Manthan,” which tells the story of India’s White Revolution and was screened in the Cannes Classics section last year.

Anurag Kashyap’s dark thriller “Kennedy,” shown in Cannes’ Midnight segment, is the main highlight of the festival, starring Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone. On the other hand, Kaushal Oza’s first film, a coming-of-age comedy-drama titled “Little Thomas,” will bring the festival to a close. Notable actors Rasika Dugal and Gulshan Devaiah are expected to attend this production.

Initially, it started as a local venue, but has now evolved into a worldwide showcase for independent Indian films,” commented the festival director, Aseem Chhabra. “This year’s selection is among our strongest and most diverse yet.

This program showcases a diverse collection of films, encompassing 22 full-length movies – 18 stories and 4 documentaries, as well as 21 short films. These films are presented in over a dozen languages and originate from various regions, such as Tamil, Odia, Assamese, Hindi, and Malayalam. Highlights include “Village Rockstars 2” directed by Rima Das, the comeback of Sharmila Tagore in Bengali cinema with “The Ancient,” and the deeply personal documentary “A Fly on the Wall” co-directed by Shonali Bose and Nilesh Maniyar.

Suman Gollamudi, executive director of the Indo-American Arts Council (which organizes the New York Indian Film Festival), stated that this event has traditionally been a place where India’s rich film heritage intersects with its bold upcoming chapters,” he said. “At 25 years old, we are not just reminiscing about the past; we are putting resources into shaping the future.

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2025-04-22 01:19