Delhi's CIFF 2025 Celebrates India's Cinematic Tapestry

The Celebrating India Film Festival (CIFF 2025) wrapped up on August 10, 2025, in New Delhi, delivering a vibrant three-day showcase of India's cinematic diversity and cultural heritage. Held at the NCUI Auditorium from August 8-10, the festival aligned with India's 79th Independence Day celebrations, offering a rich blend of restored classics, contemporary films, regional cinema, and curated short films.

The festival kicked off with screenings of India Lockdown by Madhur Bhandarkar and the iconic Kranti by Manoj Kumar, setting the stage for discussions on inclusive storytelling led by filmmaker R S Prasanna. Over the following days, audiences enjoyed the 4K-restored classic Umrao Jaan, regional gems like Venky and Sundarpur Chaos, and thought-provoking short films such as Behrupriya and Virundhu.

Documentaries like Pavazha and Corals and Culinary Heritage of India explored unique themes, from marine ecosystems to culinary traditions. Industry sessions with luminaries like Hema Sardesai, Gaurav Dhingra, and Sudipto Sengupta delved into the art and business of filmmaking, offering insights into creative and production processes.

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The final day featured Call Me Dancer and Mukam Post Devnacha Ghar, alongside FTII Shorts' Spectrum, showcasing works like Payal Kapadia’s And What Is the Summer Saying and Chidananda Naik’s Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know. Cultural performances elevated the experience, with Grammy Award-winner Ricky Kej presenting Gandhi, Mantra of Compassion and playback singer Hema Sardesai dedicating a song to Delhi’s Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

Delhi’s Art, Culture, and Languages Minister Kapil Mishra hailed CIFF as a "living tribute to India’s vast cultural and linguistic heritage," proposing a partnership with the Delhi government for the next edition. Chief Minister Gupta, speaking at the closing ceremony, outlined plans for a new film tourism policy to promote Delhi as a hub for major industry events, stating, “Films are embedded in our culture. We want to reawaken the city’s historical glory.”

CIFF 2025 not only celebrated India’s cinematic legacy but also underscored Delhi’s growing role as a cultural and filmmaking destination.

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