Victoria

Name: Victoria
Start: 2026-04-26T10:30:00-05:00
End: 2026-04-26T12:30:00-05:00
Location: AFS Cinema

Victoria, a young beautician working in a small town ladies beauty parlour, treads an overwhelming day into a decisive conviction, while an unruly offering-rooster serves as an unexpected spiritual witness.

Time & Location

Apr 26, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM CDT

AFS Cinema, 6259 Middle Fiskville Rd, Austin, TX 78752, USA

About the Event

Victoria

India | Malayalam | 2024 | 85 mins | Dir. Sivaranjini

Victoria follows the eponymous heroine through a day on the job as a beauty technician at a parlor in Kerala. Shot almost entirely within this women-only sanctuary of the parlor, the space becomes a backdrop for the anxieties, rants, and friendships of the women who visit. Into this mix come two male presences: the rooster - an offering to the saint - and Victoria’s waffling boyfriend -via videocall- for whom she has put her relationship with her family on the line. Grounded, witty, and whimsical, Victoria celebrates the beauty and strength of everyday women, even as they navigate a patriarchal and casteist world. Funded by the Kerala Government’s landmark initiative for women filmmakers, director Sivaranjini offers a warm, tender portrait of life in the ordinary. Featuring a Golden Goblet award-winning performance by Meenakshi Jayan, this FIPRESCI award-winner is a vibrant slice of life from modern Kerala.

This film will be preceeded by the short film:

Jasmine That Blooms in Autumn

India | Bengali, Hindi | 2025 | 15 mins | Dir. Chandradeep Das

In an elderly care home, Indira and Meera begin a secret romance, mindful of a society that proscribes homosexuality. While Indira tries to find solace in her newfound romantic sentiments, Meera is forthright and unreserved.

Meera's assertive and heavy-handed approach reminds Indira of the repressive behaviour that she had endured at the hands of her husband and in-laws. As their romance blossoms, Indira subtly conveys to Meera that her overly demanding requests can be detrimental to their relationship.

Virtual Q&A with Victoria writer-director-editor Sivaranjini and lead actor Meenakshi Jayan

The film will begin promptly at the time listed. Please show up early to ensure that you are in the theater 5 minutes before the film starts - we don't air 15 minutes of commercials.

Thank you to our community partner for this screening