The 23rd edition of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) unveiled its 2025 lineup on April 2, 2025.
Considered one of the leading platforms for South Asian cinema in the U.S., IFFLA has operated for two decades, to champion “bold storytelling and emerging talent” organizers said, underscoring that tradition is being continued this time as well.
The festival runs May 6–10, 2025, at Landmark Theatres Sunset and the WGA Theatre. Passes, tickets, and gala access are available now at www.indianfilmfestival.org.
It will open with Varsha Bharath’s directorial debut, Bad Girl, and close with Lawrence Valin’s debut, Little Jaffna, “bookending the event with films that are deeply rooted in South Asian experiences,” IFFLA said.
The event also aims at fostering collaboration and business opportunities for South Asian filmmakers and to meet that goal, IFFLA 2025 expanded its Industry Day into a two-day forum, with a chance to win a $10,000 Pitch Competition Grant.
This year’s lineup includes an eclectic mix of South Asian films from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the U.S., the U.K., and Canada, along with international co-productions from France, Singapore, and Norway.
IFFLA 2025 will feature 27 films, including seven narrative features, one documentary, 18 shorts, and a special two-episode screening of an anthology series. The festival includes two world premieres, six North American premieres, three U.S. premieres, and 14 Los Angeles premieres, highlighting a diverse and exciting slate of new voices and perspectives.
“Beyond individual highlights, this year’s lineup celebrates the rich diversity of South Asian cinema with a strong emphasis on female-driven narratives both in front and behind the camera,” IFFLA’s Artistic Director Anu Rangachar, is quoted saying in the press release. “We are thrilled to present an expanded lineup that not only showcases an exciting mix of talent, ranging from fearless new voices to returning alums and established auteurs, but also sparks vital crucial conversations.”
The stories presented range from gender identity, migration, sexuality, mental health, climate change, and responsible technology.
Among the highlights of this year’s lineup is Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears), the Grand Jury winner at Sundance, in which Rohan Kanawade’s debut feature explores queer intimacy within India’s societal norms.
A notable North American premiere of Raam Reddy’s (Thithi) The Fable, revolves around a mysterious tale led by Manoj Bajpayee, who plays an estate owner confronting unexplained fires consuming his land. The cast includes well known actors Priyanka Bose, Tillotama Shome, and Deepak Dobriyal.
Deepak Rauniyar’s (White Sun, Four Nights) Pooja, Sir is a taut police procedural following a female detective investigating the disappearance of two boys in a Nepalese border town.
Rima Das’ (Bulbul Can Sing, Tora’s Husband) Village Rockstars 2 continues her coming-of-age theme, chronicling a teenage girl’s pursuit of music amid life’s harsh realities.
Aranya Sahay’s (Saaya) Humans in the Loop is a tender, layered portrait of a single mother navigating her relationship with her teenage daughter while working as a data annotator—one of the invisible workers behind India’s growing AI industry. The screening will include a special panel on responsible technology and AI ethics, featuring filmmakers and industry experts.
The documentary A Fly on the Wall, from Nilesh Maniyar and Shonali Bose (Margarita with a Straw), offers an unflinching portrait of a man asserting autonomy over his final moments.
IFFLA 2025 will also showcase the Los Angeles premiere of the television series DUI Shaw, a psychological drama from Bangladeshi filmmaker Nuhash Humayun, blending supernatural horror with South Asia’s stark realities. The screening will be followed by a masterclass with the filmmaker, an IFFLA shorts alum.
