Rotterdam Winner ‘Bad Girl,’ Venice Selection ‘Little Jaffna’ Bookend IFFLA 2025 as Fest Expands Industry Programming (EXCLUSIVE)

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The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) has unveiled the lineup for its 23rd edition.

The five-day festival will kick off featuring the North American debut of Varsha Bharath’s “Bad Girl,” a Tamil-language drama which won the Netpac award at this year’s International Film Festival Rotterdam. This production is under the direction of esteemed filmmaker Vetrimaaran (“Asuran”) and showcased by renowned director Anurag Kashyap (“Gangs of Wasseypur”). The movie tells a poignant tale about a young woman’s fearless exploration of self-discovery.

Lawrence Valin’s first directorial effort, “Little Jaffna,” which had its premiere at Venice last year, has been chosen as the closing night film. The movie, set within Paris’s La Chapelle district, presents a vivid image of the Tamil diaspora and delves into the struggles immigrants encounter when attempting to reconcile their cultural roots with assimilation into French culture.

Lawrence Valin’s first film “Little Jaffna,” which was shown at Venice last year, will be the closing movie. The story takes place in Paris’s La Chapelle neighborhood and shows what life is like for Tamils living there, focusing on their challenges of keeping their heritage while also fitting into French society.

Based on last year’s achievements, IFFLA is broadening its industry-focused activities into a two-day event titled “IFFLA Industry Days,” taking place from May 8th through 9th. The goal of this initiative is to facilitate connections between South Asian film and TV innovators and Hollywood professionals, while also providing an opportunity for participants to compete for a $10,000 Pitch Competition Award.

2023’s presentation highlights South Asian narratives spanning various global locations such as India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Additionally, it includes collaborative productions with countries like France, Singapore, and Norway. In total, the International Film Festival Los Angeles (IFFLA) will exhibit 27 films, comprising 7 narrative features, 1 documentary feature, 18 shorts, and a two-part screening of a television series.

One of the notable aspects is “Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears),” a film by Rohan Kanawade marking his directorial debut that delves into queer relationships within India’s traditional norms, which was awarded the Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Some other notable features are:

1. The first North American showing of Raam Reddy’s movie “The Fable,” starring Manoj Bajpayee as a landowner probing strange blazes.
2. Aranya Sahay’s film “Humans in the Loop,” depicting a single mother working as a data annotator within India’s AI sector.
3. Deepak Rauniyar’s police drama “Pooja, Sir.”
4. The continuation of Rima Das’ successful coming-of-age story with “Village Rockstars 2.”

The featured documentaries include “A Fly on the Wall,” produced by Nilesh Maniyar and Shonali Bose, which provides a personal perspective on a man taking control of his last moments.

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In our documentary collection is “A Fly on the Wall,” a production by Nilesh Maniyar and Shonali Bose that captures an intimate view of a man making decisions about his final moments.

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One of the documentaries presented is titled “A Fly on the Wall,” directed by Nilesh Maniyar and Shonali Bose, showcasing a close-up look at a man taking charge in the last phase of his life.

At IFFLA, you’ll find the Los Angeles debut of “Dui Shaw,” a psychological thriller by Nuhash Humayun that combines supernatural horror with authentic South Asian experiences. After the movie, Humayun will conduct a workshop, sharing insights into his journey from Bangladesh to Hollywood.

This short film competition showcases 18 movies that have caused a stir at significant global film festivals, with 10 female directors presenting varied stories. Notable submissions include “bonVoyage pour monVoyage,” which won the Student Academy Award, Eisha Marjara’s personal documentary “Am I The Skinniest Person You’ve Ever Seen,” and Mansi Maheshwari’s “Bunnyhood,” which was shown at both Sundance and Cannes’ La Cinefondation.

As a movie enthusiast and the Artistic Director of IFFLA, I am ecstatic to announce this year’s film festival lineup. It’s more than just standout moments; it’s a celebration of the vibrant tapestry that is South Asian cinema. The focus here is on empowering female narratives, both on-screen and off, giving voice to a multitude of talented women – from bold newcomers to seasoned veterans and esteemed auteurs. This expanded selection not only offers an electrifying array of talent but also encourages thought-provoking discussions that are essential in today’s world.

In mid-April, we’ll unveil the complete schedule for our Industry Days event, which features discussions, workshops, and the selected finalists for the pitch competition.

The festival runs May 6-10 at Landmark Theatres Sunset and the WGA Theater.

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2025-04-01 20:18