NEW DELHI, Jan 9: The inaugural Indian Film Festival Germany will showcase over 40 feature films, including the Cannes Grand Prix winner “All We Imagine As Light” and Boman Irani’s “The Mehta Boys”, from January 10 to 12.
Organised by the Embassy of India in Berlin and The Tagore Centre, the festival is billed as a “landmark celebration” of the contemporary Indian cinema that is gaining prominence in Germany, as per a press release.
In addition to the film screenings, the festival will also present exclusive premieres and engaging Q&A sessions.
The event will feature a glamorous opening gala in Berlin, alongside simultaneous screenings and panel discussions in Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Munich, establishing it as one of the largest non-commercial film festivals held outside of India.
Screenings will take place at cutting-edge venues, including CinemaxX’s Potsdamer Platz cinema, known for having one of the largest screens in Europe, which serves as a primary location for premieres during Berlin’s international film festivals.
Irani’s directorial debut, “The Mehta Boys”, starring the veteran actor alongside Avinash Tiwary, will be the festival’s opening film, followed by a Q&A session with Irani.
Gala receptions will accompany screenings of Manoj Bajpayee’s “Despatch” and “Gulmohar” in Munich and Hamburg, respectively, featuring interactive sessions with directors Rahul Chittella and Kanu Behl after their films.
Renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur will also participate in a Q&A session following the screening of his classic 1983 film “Masoom”.
The creative team behind the recently released spy thriller “Berlin” — director Atul Sabharwal and actor Aparshakti Khurana — will host a session after presenting their film at the gala.
Among the other films featured are Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine As Light”, “The Sabarmati Report” starring Vikrant Massey, and “Girls Will be Girls” by Shuchi Talati, along with a curated selection of short films.
The festival is supported by the Information & Broadcasting Ministry and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, with curatorial assistance from the Producers Guild of India (PGI) and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
“Indian cinema has emerged as a global phenomenon, engaging audiences across the globe. Our rich cinematic heritage reflects our vibrant culture and serves as a universal platform for fostering connections.
“IFF Germany embodies this spirit within one of the world’s premier film hubs, enhancing cultural and economic relationships between India and Germany,” Ajit Gupte, Ambassador of India to Germany, stated.
Trisha Sakhlecha, Director of The Tagore Centre, remarked that the festival will showcase “the best of Indian cinema today”—dynamic, varied, and profoundly human.
“With the exceptional efforts of our selection committee and the generous backing of our partners, IFF Germany is set to be a landmark event highlighting both traditional and modern Indian culture,” she added. (PTI)
