Fereshteh, a young student in Tehran, must hide the existence of her illegitimate two-month old baby for the night when her parents announce a surprise visit. She and her resourceful best friend must weigh up their true allies. As they traverse the city, their simple mission proves surprisingly treacherous. Filmocracy Virtual April 28 - May 1, 2023 Until Tomorrow Iran | Narrative Feature 2022 | 86 min | Persian, Farsi TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL World Premiere Selection: Berlinale 2022 Official Selection: Zurich, Istanbul, Stockholm, Edinburgh, & Sao Paulo International Film Festival Fereshteh is studying and working at a printers’ shop in Tehran. She wants to go to the US but is having trouble finding the time for a language course. This is because she also has a two-month-old baby that her parents know nothing about. When they announce at short notice that they are coming to visit, Fereshteh has to hide illegitimate child and everything that would give away her existence. What at first seems resolvable with a phone call to a few friends soon develops into a difficult undertaking. Fereshteh’s quick-witted friend Atefeh offers her support, but their ensuing odyssey through the city only reveals to the pair how limited their options are. In a society that does not grant everyone the same rights, young women have to weigh up carefully who their allies are. Restoration Process About the Artist Ali Asgari was born in Tehran, Iran. He studied cinema in Italy and began his career as an assistant director. After creating several acclaimed short films, he was selected for the Berlinale Talent Campus 2013. Early in his career his short films, MORE THAN TWO HOURS and THE SILENCE, were both selections at Cannes and nominated for a Palme d’Or. His work has premiered and competed at 600+ world festivals, including leading festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Sundance, Palm Springs, Melbourne, Durban, Stockholm, Montreal, Sao Paulo, BFI London, Leeds, & Festival Tous Courts. His films have won more than 100 international awards. UNTIL TOMORROW is Asgari's second feature film and premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale '22). Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Ali Asgari Writer: Ali Asgari Producer(s): Ali Asgari Raphaëlle Delauche Niki Karimi Nicolas Sanfaute Film Editor: Ehsan Vasegh i Featured Cast: Sadaf Asgari Ghazal Shojaei Amirreza Ranjbaran Nahal Dashti Thank you to our community partners for this screening! This program was made possible in part with a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Inspired by Iranian cinema and the poetry of Forough Farrokhzad, a young director from India journeys to Tehran to witness how resistance becomes a daily act of survival in Iranian society. April 12, 2025 at 3:15:00 PM AFS Cinema Virtual May 2 - 4, 2025 Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation Indie Meme Special 10th Year Retrospective Showcase United States Premiere And, Towards Happy Alleys India, Iran | Documentary 2023 | 75 mins | Persian, English Preceded by the short film The First Film . Live Q&A with director Sreemoyee Singh and lead actress Aida Mohammadkhani TICKETS WATCH ONLINE Limited tickets available on site. Best Film in the International Competition at BAFICI, Argentina, April 2023 Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari award for Best Debut Director at Mumbai International Film Festival, June, 2024 Best Documentary in World Cinema Festival, Calcutta, 2024 Fascinated by Iran’s film culture and the poetic works of the feminist poet Forough Farrokhzad, Indian filmmaker Sreemoyee Singh sets out in search of the protagonists of Iranian cinema. The numerous interviews she conducts over a period of six years with filmmakers Jafar Panahi, Mohammad Shirvani, and human rights activist Nasrin Sotudeh, among others, show the precarious situation in which critics of the regime find themselves, including the constant threat of imprisonment and being banned from practicing their profession. With a keen eye for unusual situations, she documents the effect of the Islamic Republic’s strict and omnipresent censorship on the daily lives of Iranian women whose uncompromising struggle has put them at the forefront of the protests that are currently rocking the country. And, Towards Happy Alleys is a passionate declaration of love for the cinema and poetry of Iran which also provides a frank view of daily life, and bears witness to a fearless generation raising its voice and implacably demanding its civil liberties. Film Heritage Foundation used the best surviving elements for the restoration – the original camera negative and the 35 mm print preserved at the NFDC – NFAI. Unfortunately, the sound negative was not available. We digitized the sound from the 35 mm print preserved at Film Heritage Foundation. The film elements were repaired by the Film Heritage Foundation conservators and the scanning was done in Prasad Lab in Chennai We found that due to the deterioration of the print, there were vertical green lines on many parts of the film. While the scanning and digital clean-up was done at Prasad under the supervision of L’Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, the grading, sound restoration and mastering was done at the lab in Bologna. Both Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihalani, the cinematographer of the film, have been involved in the restoration of the film. Restoration Process Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation The screening will be preceded by a performance by Specific Thing. Specific Thing is the project of local musician Román. Sometimes he plays by himself and sometimes he plays with his snazzy band — he loves to do both! And the music? It draws from folk, punk, pop, latin, communism, animals, friends... He likes to keep it cartoony, quick, and catchy. The band released an album in 2025 called "Now Is Actually Not A Good Time". Find more at @specificthing on Instagram. Meet Specific Thing About the Artist Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation Sreemoyee is a filmmaker and producer from Kolkata, India. She has a PhD degree on “The Exiled Filmmaker in Post-Revolution Iran” from the department of Film Studies at Jadavpur University. She learned Persian and traveled to Iran to film her debut documentary And, Towards Happy Alleys which launched at the Berlinale International Film Festival (Panorama section) in February 2023 and has screened at prestigious film festivals such CPH:DOX (Denmark) Thessaloniki (Greece) Sheffield (UK) DMZ Docs (South Korea) Antenna Film Festival (Australia) Jio MAMI (India), Docpoint Helsinki (Finland) winning the ‘best film’ in the International Competition at BAFICI, Argentina. Sreemoyee also won the Best Debut Director award at the Mumbai International Film Festival for her film along with the FIPRESCI (International) Critics Jury award. Sreemoyee has also worked as an Assistant Professor of Film Studies at St. Joseph’s University, Bangalore, and a Guest Lecturer at New York University, Abu Dhabi (NYUAD). She is the recipient of the Golden Globe Foundation Residency for International Filmmakers in Los Angeles in February-March 2024. Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation Trailer Credits Crew: Director: Sreemoyee Singh Aida Mohammadkhani Writer: Sreemoyee Singh Producers: Sreemoyee Singh Happy Alley Films Film Editor: Joydip Das Pradyatan Bera Featured Cast: Restoration Effort Led By: Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director, Film Heritage Foundation Restoration Credit: Restored by Film Heritage Foundation in association with Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd.(Amul), the cinematographer Govind Nihalani and the director Shyam Benegal. Funding supported by Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd.(Amul) Thank you to our community partners for this screening!

2023 Shera Short Kumaoni mins 20 Texas Premiere In-Person, Virtual 2023 India Drama, Kids When MONU’s (11) parents decide to migrate from their remote Himalayan village to the city, he realizes that he may never be able to see SHERA, the elusive leopard that lives in the forests around his village. Everyone in the village seems to have seen him but MONU. As the day of departure nears, MONU grows despondent but his best friend RAJU is determined to give him the best parting gift he can think of – a view of SHERA. Winner Best Film - Bulbul Children's International Film Festival, Selections - LA Shorts International Film Festival Tickets 4/21/24, 3:30 PM All Badges, Individual Tickets AFS Cinema Writer / Director Arun Fulara Arun Fulara is a writer and filmmaker based out of Mumbai, India. His short films SUNDAY (2020), MY MOTHER’S GIRLFRIEND (2021), and SHERA (2023) have travelled travelled widely to festivals to more than 150 festivals around the world and won over a dozen awards at festivals internationally. He previously assisted acclaimed filmmaker Devashish Makhija on award winning films like AJJI & BHONSLE. He’s also a published writer, his short story, THE LEOPARD OF BAGESHWAR, was published by Juggernaut in 2017 and a picture book based on his short film SHERA is on the anvil. He’s currently working on multiple projects, including his debut feature film – MY HOME IS IN THE HILLS – a coming-of-age drama set in a north Indian Himalayan village, and steeped in magical realism in the context of migration. Director: Arun Fulara Producer: Sharib Khan, Vikas Kumar Writer: Arun Fulara Cast: Sagar Kumar, Parth Pandey, Arushi Nagarkoti, Chia Joshi, Madan Mehra, Bijli (The Goat), the villagers of Mayoun. Editor: Vivekanand Daakhore Crew: Rangoli Agarwal, Devraj Bhaumik This Event is supported in part by a Mini Grant from Humanities Texas. Community Partners for the Film More Films

On a quiet night, a lonely man spends an hour engaging in his favorite activities, but soon he must face the consequences of his actions. April 10, 2025 at 6:30:00 PM AFS Cinema Virtual May 2 - 4, 2025 Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation Indie Meme Special 10th Year Retrospective Showcase Texas Premiere Lost. USA | Short 2024 | 9 mins | N/A TICKETS WATCH ONLINE Limited tickets available on site. Hyperreal Film Club Official Selection, Reale Film Festival - Best Super Short, Tamizhagam International Film Festival - Best Actor Life Lost is not the same as Life Taken. Lost is a story that explores the themes of loneliness, inner battles, and helplessness. The protagonist has no “name” in the film and is seen going through a series of emotions that feel both rushed and deliberate, each serving a purpose within the narrative. In the opening two minutes, the film symbolizes the struggle and mental turmoil that one experiences in intense situations at a thought level, particularly when grappling with the desire to escape from the reality. As the story progresses, the character becomes both expressive and reactive, engaging in a series of mundane activities that seem to provide some comfort to him. A timer, counting down an hour, heightens the tension as the character grows increasingly anxious as time passes. The film ends with a moment of revelation, where the character's journey becomes clear, tying together the events shown and offering clarity to the emotions and experiences portrayed. Film Heritage Foundation used the best surviving elements for the restoration – the original camera negative and the 35 mm print preserved at the NFDC – NFAI. Unfortunately, the sound negative was not available. We digitized the sound from the 35 mm print preserved at Film Heritage Foundation. The film elements were repaired by the Film Heritage Foundation conservators and the scanning was done in Prasad Lab in Chennai We found that due to the deterioration of the print, there were vertical green lines on many parts of the film. While the scanning and digital clean-up was done at Prasad under the supervision of L’Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, the grading, sound restoration and mastering was done at the lab in Bologna. Both Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihalani, the cinematographer of the film, have been involved in the restoration of the film. Restoration Process Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation The screening will be preceded by a performance by Specific Thing. Specific Thing is the project of local musician Román. Sometimes he plays by himself and sometimes he plays with his snazzy band — he loves to do both! And the music? It draws from folk, punk, pop, latin, communism, animals, friends... He likes to keep it cartoony, quick, and catchy. The band released an album in 2025 called "Now Is Actually Not A Good Time". Find more at @specificthing on Instagram. Meet Specific Thing About the Artist Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation Rohit Battepati is a self-taught filmmaker whose passion for storytelling developed from his exposure to a diverse array of films. With a deep appreciation for various genres, he aspires to create genre-driven cinema that resonates with audiences. Born in India, Rohit was profoundly influenced by South Indian films during his childhood, an experience that later fueled his curiosity to explore world cinema after relocating to the United States in 2015. Rohit gained valuable experience as an assistant director on the anthology web series Maranam, a project entirely filmed in Texas. He took a significant step forward in his career by directing his debut short film, Lost. , showcasing his emerging talent. Passionate about pushing creative boundaries, Rohit is eager to make films that span a wide range of genres and explore a spectrum of emotions on screen, solidifying his commitment to versatile and impactful storytelling. Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation Trailer Credits Crew: Director: Rohit Battepati Writer: Producers: Film Editor: Santosh Vemula Featured Cast: Raviteja Cherughattu Restoration Effort Led By: Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director, Film Heritage Foundation Restoration Credit: Restored by Film Heritage Foundation in association with Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd.(Amul), the cinematographer Govind Nihalani and the director Shyam Benegal. Funding supported by Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd.(Amul) Thank you to our community partners for this screening!

After a night of heavy drinking, a twenty year-old virgin stumbles into Mumbai's oldest brothel, where he encounters a mythical creature who turns his first sexual encounter on its head. April 20, 2024 at 10:30:00 AM AFS Cinema Virtual May 3 - May 5, 2024 Texas Premiere Kamathipura India | Short 2022 | 7 mins | Hindi TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL Atlanta Horror Film Festival 2022 (Atlanta, GA) – Nomination for Best Animated Short Named after Mumbai’s historic red light district, Kamathipura explores the decaying neighborhood with nightmarish strokes of fantasy. We follow the nervous virgin Sid as he makes a pilgrimage of sorts to a much-vaunted temptress in the area. But the mythical seductress has other plans. She turns Sid’s first time into a terrifying supernatural ordeal, where he is forced to reckon with the violence and sexual slavery that ensnares Kamathipura’s workers. Restoration Process About the Artist Aayush is an experiential creative, filmmaker, and new media artist who is happiest working on something entirely different from the last project he worked on, a road which has led him through the worlds of VR installations, real-time animation, Amazon Prime dramedies, and more. Ever since his mother went to see The Silence of the Lambs just before giving birth to him, he has been fascinated by the idea of gifting strange, meaningful experiences to audiences. https://vimeo.com/aayushman/mixtape Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Aayushman Pandey Writer: Sneh Sapru Producer(s): Wasim Khan, Priya Sreedharan Film Editor: Featured Cast: Akshay Oberoi, Priti Shroff Thank you to our community partners for this screening! This program was made possible in part with a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

April 25, 2026 at 8:15:00 PM AFS Cinema Fucktoys USA 2025 Live Q&A with writer-director-actor Annapurna Sriram and producer Timothy Petryni Preceeded by the short films Squat N Stool and Burnt Orange TICKETS BUY A BADGE SXSW Film Festival - Special Jury Award NewFest: New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival - Grand Jury Prize Nashville Film Festival - Grand Jury Prize Part-time sex worker, full-time chaos magnet, AP is convinced that the universe has it out for her… and she might be right. In this wild, unfiltered debut from writer/director/star Annapurna Sriram — AP seeks a cosmic reset after a tarot reader floating in a swamp tells her she needs $1,000 and a sacrificial lamb to lift her curse. Armed with neither, she meets up with her long-lost kindred spirit Danni, and together the two moped off on a bizarre quest through Trashtown USA — a dystopian, neon-drenched sprawl of strip clubs and urban decay, stocked with a series of assorted oddballs, Tom of Finland cops, and some all-too-familiar type clients. Fucktoys is rude, crude, unhinged, girlypop middle finger to filmic convention, and a comedic calling card for anyone who finds themself asking the question: am I cursed??? Restoration Process Film restoration process Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation About the Artist Annapurna Sriram is an emerging horse girl from Nashville, TN. She holds a BFA in Acting from Rutgers’ Mason Gross. Her most cherished previous work includes Jesse Eisenberg’s The Spoils, Wallace Shawn’s Evening at the Talkhouse, and the feature film Feral. She is an aficionado of fetish, fantasy, and foreplay. Fucktoys is her directorial debut. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Annapurna Sriram Writer: Annapurna Sriram Producer(s): Timothy Petryni Film Editor: Lilly Wild Grason Caldwell Featured Cast: Annapurna Sriram Sadie Scott Francois Arnaud Big Freedia Brandon Flynn Damian Young Thank you to our community partners for this screening!

In this psychological horror film, two young mothers having a rough day are unprepared to meet Lalanna, a precocious preteen girl who suavely pushes their buttons. Seeming to possess all the promise and confidence the two women have lost, Lalanna unleashes within them a merciless instinct to set her straight. Filmocracy Virtual April 28 - May 1, 2023 Lalanna's Song India | Short 2022 | 33 mins | Malayalam, Hindi, English TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL Restoration Process About the Artist Megha Ramaswamy is a filmmaker & writer based in Mumbai. Her first two shorts, NEWBORNS (2014) and BUNNY (2015), both premiered at Toronto International Film Festival. Her documentary, THE LAST MUSIC STORE (2016), won the audience 'Best Documentary' Award at South Asian International Film Festival. Her films have traveled to Indian and international festivals, including Clermont-Ferrand and Cork, winning top honors for their powerful storytelling and innovative technique. She is a beneficiary of the Chicken & Egg Grant for women filmmakers in collaboration with the Indian Documentary Foundation (IDF), and also the recipient of the British Council Screenwriters Grant 2008 (UK). Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Megha Ramaswamy Writer: Megha Ramaswamy Producer(s): Film Editor: Featured Cast: Rima Kallingal, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Nakshatra Indrajith Thank you to our community partners for this screening! This program was made possible in part with a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

< Our Team Staff Davis Kurepa-Peers Webmaster & Videographer Davis is a professional creative specializing in multimedia marketing and video production. Since joining Indie Meme, she’s enjoyed capturing its spirit through video and ensuring a seamless website experience as their videographer and webmaster.

MONU’s (11) obsession with sighting SHERA, the elusive leopard living in the forest around his remote Himalayan village, is tested when his parents decide to migrate to the city. As the day of departure nears, MONU grows despondent but his friend RAJU is determined to help fulfill his wish. AFS Cinema Virtual May 3 - May 5, 2024 Texas Premiere Shera India | Short 2023 | 20 mins | Kumaoni TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL Winner Best Film - Bulbul Children's International Film Festival, Selections - LA Shorts International Film Festival When MONU’s (11) parents decide to migrate from their remote Himalayan village to the city, he realizes that he may never be able to see SHERA, the elusive leopard that lives in the forests around his village. Everyone in the village seems to have seen him but MONU. As the day of departure nears, MONU grows despondent but his best friend RAJU is determined to give him the best parting gift he can think of – a view of SHERA. Restoration Process About the Artist Arun Fulara is a writer and filmmaker based out of Mumbai, India. His short films SUNDAY (2020), MY MOTHER’S GIRLFRIEND (2021), and SHERA (2023) have travelled travelled widely to festivals to more than 150 festivals around the world and won over a dozen awards at festivals internationally. He previously assisted acclaimed filmmaker Devashish Makhija on award winning films like AJJI & BHONSLE. He’s also a published writer, his short story, THE LEOPARD OF BAGESHWAR, was published by Juggernaut in 2017 and a picture book based on his short film SHERA is on the anvil. He’s currently working on multiple projects, including his debut feature film – MY HOME IS IN THE HILLS – a coming-of-age drama set in a north Indian Himalayan village, and steeped in magical realism in the context of migration. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Arun Fulara Writer: Arun Fulara Producer(s): Sharib Khan, Vikas Kumar Film Editor: Vivekanand Daakhore Featured Cast: Sagar Kumar, Parth Pandey, Arushi Nagarkoti, Chia Joshi, Madan Mehra, Bijli (The Goat), the villagers of Mayoun. Thank you to our community partners for this screening! This program was made possible in part with a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Meet our 2019 sponsors, patrons and supporters. We are grateful to these organizations to help bring independent films from Southeast Asia to our audience. Our Sponsors 2018 IMFF Sponsors IMFF 2019 is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin, Economic Development Department IMFF 2019 Producing Sponsors IMFF 2019 Directing Sponsors Indie Meme Patron Sponsors Indie Meme Benefactor Film Sponsors We are grateful to our 2015 , 2016, 2017 and 2018 sponsors. Media Partners

His late grandfather's spirit haunts twelve-year-old Jayaram Siddi. He loses touch with reality. His family embraces tribal rituals and Dammam music to restore his balance and address inter-generational trauma. December 7, 2025 at 2:00:00 PM AFS Cinema Followed by a member mixer at VIVO. Austin Premiere Rhythm of Dammam India | Narrative Feature 2024 | 92 min | Konkani, Kannada Live Q&A with Writer-Director, Jayan Cherian, following the screening Followed by a member mixer at VIVO. TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL In Uttara Kannada, India, Jayaram Siddi, a twelve-year-old boy, is believed to be possessed by the spirit of his late grandfather, Rama Bantu Siddi. Despite seeking help from local black magicians, Jayaram's condition remains unchanged. He escapes into a dream world, using 'magical' instruments from his grandfather to connect with his ancestors. However, he becomes overwhelmed by the agonizing history of his ancestors' chattel slavery, losing touch with reality. Jayaram drops out of school, and his family strives to restore his balance by embracing tribal rituals and Dammam music, both vital to their cultural heritage. The film delves in Jayaram's struggle with the intergenerational trauma, emphasizing the challenges faced by him and his family in finding healing and stability. --- For historical context, the Siddis are an ethnically Southeast African community who have been in India since ~600 CE, coming either as soldiers in Arab armies or as enslaved people brought into the ports. Restoration Process About the Artist Jayan Cherian, from Kerala, holds an MFA in filmmaking from The City College of New York as well as a BA in film and creative writing from Hunter College. He has received numerous honors and recognition for his cinematic works, which have been featured at prestigious film festivals around the world, including the Berlin International Film Festival, Durban International Film Festival, BFI London Lesbian Gay Film Festival, NARA International Film Festival, Rio-de-Janeiro International Film Festival, Kolkata International Film Festival, and Montreal World Film Festival. His career features notable titles including Ka Bodyscapes (2016), Papilio Buddha (2014), The Shape of the Shapeless (2010), and the much-awaited Rhythm of Dammam (2024). He has also contributed significantly to numerous documentaries and short films over the course of his career. --- The live Q&A will be moderated by Jacqueline Rush Rivera. Jacqueline is dedicated to seeking out and supporting hidden cultural gems and sharing their stories through a decolonial framework. She has curated film exhibitions, directed film festival programs, directed film distribution projects, designed large and complex art exhibitions, stage managed theater productions, and has worked in a variety of cultural spaces. She currently contributes to projects for VoxFem Festival, Cinema Without Borders, and LeRay Music. Born on the Island of Borinquen/Puerto Rico, Jacqueline is a long-time resident of Austin, Tejas. Libraries, dancehalls, and mountain tops are some of her favorite things. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Jayan Cherian Writer: Jayan Cherian Producer(s): Jayan Cherian Film Editor: Shinos Rahman Featured Cast: Chinmaya Siddi Prashant Siidi Nagaraj Siddi Girija Siddi Parashuram Siddi Mohan Siddi Lilly Jacki Siddi Gundayya Rama Siddi Katrina Francis Siddi Thank you to our community partners for this screening! This program was made possible in part with a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Sooraj, the last remaining death photographer at the burning banks of Manikarnika, is going through troubled times like old Kashi. The ancient town is being demolished to build modern beautified pathways. The death photographer is out of work because of the fancy smartphones with exquisite cameras. He stands at the crossroads - either he continues seeking dummies to click or he looks for greener pastures beyond the singed banks of Manikarnika to secure a better future for his family. Eventive Virtual May 2 - 4, 2025 Barah x Barah (12x12) India | Narrative Feature 2021 | 118 mins | Hindi TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL IFFK, Kerala 2021 Shanghai International Film Festival 2021 IFF Stuttgart 2021 Sooraj is the last remaining death photographer at the burning banks of Manikarnika in Banaras. Kashi, one of the most ancient towns in the world, is undergoing a cosmetic facelift. Old heritage is being demolished to build beautified modern structures. The death photographer is going through the same ordeal as the town. People aren’t availing his services thanks to the advent of fancy smartphones with exquisite cameras. Sooraj has an ailing father, a beautiful caring wife and a young son whom he wants to keep away from the burning banks. He is struggling to make ends meet but still isn’t giving up on dummies. There are many who capture the living but only a few who click the departed. Unable to sight a future for his family in Banaras Sooraj is forced to look for greener pastures beyond the singed banks of Manikarnika. He knows he is a migrant amidst a great many migrants in this ancient town stuck in time bubble.Life will soon give him a chance to experience death and yet another shot at life as well! Restoration Process About the Artist Gaurav Madan is a screenwriter, director, and producer based in Mumbai, with extensive experience across narrative fiction, advertising, and audio storytelling. He has directed over 100 ad films, corporate films, and music videos. His short films, including the award-winning Sambhavtaha (Probably), have received wide recognition. Gaurav's debut feature film Barah by Barah (12x12 Untitled, 2024) premiered at the Shanghai International Film Festival and the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). It went on to screen at several prestigious festivals. The film received the Grand Prix for Best Feature at FIPRESCI India and Best Director at the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF). An alumnus of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab, NFDC Filmcity Screenwriters Lab, and Film Independent's Global Media Makers program, Gaurav is also passionate about reviving oral storytelling traditions through audio fiction and podcasts. Most recently, he completed work on Galli No. 26, starring Abhishek Banerjee and Raghubir Yadav, where he served as writer, creative director, and second unit director. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Gaurav Madan Writer: Gaurav Madan Sunny Lahiri Jignesh Patel Producer(s): Gaurav Madan Sunny Lahiri Jignesh Patel Film Editor: Hira Das Featured Cast: Gyanendra Tripathi Harish Khanna Bhumika Dube Geetika Vidya Ohlyan Aakash Sinha Aashit Chatterjee Prithvi Singh Thank you to our community partners for this screening! This program was made possible in part with a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.