A writer-director struggles with her profound sense of loss after the sudden death of her father, who dies while visiting his homeland of India. Hena wrestles with coming to terms with their strained relationship the only way she knows how: making a film. Filmocracy Virtual April 28 - May 1, 2023 The Return India | Documentary 2021 | 18 mins | English, Urdu TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL Restoration Process About the Artist Hena Ashraf is a writer-director who creates character-based multi-layered narratives, showing how truly connected we all are with the specific being universal, focusing primarily on stories about migrants and migrant life, as migration is such a common, while disruptive, experience. Born in London to Bihari Muslim working-class parents from India, she spent her early years in the United Kingdom before immigrating to America. Hena’s work has been supported by the Brooklyn Arts Council, Tribeca Film Institute, the Islamic Scholarship Fund, the Norris Foundation, BAFTA Los Angeles, MPAA, Wasserman, the Adrienne Shelly Foundation, an ISF National Film Grant, Telluride FilmLAB, the Caucus Foundation, Tasveer Film Fund, and more. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Hena Ashraf Writer: Hena Ashraf Producer(s): Film Editor: Featured Cast: Roshni Shukla, Shurud Shanto, Aishveryaa Nidhi 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 14, 2023 at 6:30:00 PM AFS Cinema Texas Premiere Goldfish United Kingdom, India | Narrative Feature 2022 | 103 mins | English LIVE, In-Person Q&A w/ Director Pushan Kripalani & Lead Actress Kalki Koechlin TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL World Premiere at the Busan International Film Festival (2022) With help from a neighbourhood and a past she has shunned, a young woman (Kalki Koechlin) returns home to deal with her mother's dementia and the scars of her childhood. Restoration Process About the Artist Pushan Kripalani is a cinematographer and director. He graduated with a degree in English Literature and earned his Master's in Film and TV Production from the University of Bristol, with a specialization in Cinematography. He lives and works in Mumbai, India. His first feature film, THE THRESHOLD, was acclaimed in its festival run, garnering praise at MAMI and the NFDC Film Bazaar and winning 'Best Actor' and 'Best Actress' at the New York Indian Film Festival. As cinematographer, he has shot several features, as well as ads, documentaries, and shorts, working with Shyam Benegal, Ram Madhvani and Zafar Hai, amongst others, as well as for National Geographic, Discovery and the BBC. He has worked on 30+ productions for stage and radio, in capacities ranging from director to actor to designer, musician, and producer. GOLDFISH is his second feature film. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Pushan Kripalani Writer: Pushan Kripalani Arghya Lahiri Producer(s): Amit Saxena Surabhi Bhatnagar Film Editor: Pradip Patil Featured Cast: Kalki Koechlin Deepti Naval Rajit Kapur Bharti Patel Ravin J. Ganatra Gordon Warnecke Shanaya Rafaat 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.

Raya confronts the sudden loss of her own childhood and explores the complexities of grief and duty. April 26, 2026 at 3:45:00 PM AFS Cinema Little Fishies India | Short 2025 | 20 mins | English, Hindi, Punjabi Shown as part of the Family Shorts Program TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL On the day of their father’s funeral ceremony, 13-year-old Raya and her younger sister Mia find themselves engulfed in the absurd and chaotic atmosphere of a grieving Punjabi household. Relatives assign duties, rituals unfold, and Raya feels a widening disconnect between the culturally appropriate way of grieving and her own instinctive way of grappling with the loss. This internal dissonance, coupled with Raya’s desire to shield Mia from the heaviness around them, drives her to hatch a plan to slip away from the stifling ceremony and escape to the beach. The sisters’ mission gets derailed when their mother catches them and forbids them from leaving — she chides Raya for not supporting her, and insists that they grieve in the "correct” way. Raya pushes back, questioning the contradictions in her mother’s argument, which leans heavily on duty and tradition. This difference in philosophies sets off a heart-wrenching conflict between mother and daughter, each struggling to cope with the same pain. As Raya and Mia fight against all odds to escape, they are forced to navigate judgment from their own family members, who deem their behavior unfit for the ceremony. Not only must Raya now fight their expectations of what a daughter in mourning must look like, but also reckon with a startlingly heavy question — is there really a right way to grieve? Restoration Process About the Artist Mallika Juneja is a writer and director based in Mumbai, India. After completing her BFA in Filmmaking from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Mallika worked in New York at companies such as A24, Comedy Central, and William Morris Endeavor. In 2021, Mallika’s screenplay won "Best Original Half-Hour Pilot" at NYU's Fusion Film Festival, and in 2024 she was a part of the jury for the same category at the festival. In Mumbai, Mallika has worked with Tiger Baby and Excel Entertainment; first as a Development Executive, and then as a Director's Assistant. While with Tiger Baby, she was Creative Assistant and then a Director's Assistant on films and series for Netflix and Amazon, along with theatrical releases. Independently, Mallika has directed music videos, ads, plays, and promotional content for Tiger Baby, Netflix, EO2 EXP, as well as other independent producers and brands. In 2024, she was selected as one of five directors at the Creative Minds of Tomorrow program organized by the International Film Festival of India and the NFDC, where she directed a short film that won two awards at the closing ceremony. Mallika tends to tell thought-provoking, character driven stories that are gripping and fresh — stories that gently reflect on the contradictions of the time and society we live in, while also being grounded in raw human emotions. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Mallika Juneja Writer: Mallika Juneja Producer(s): Jasmin A Singh Film Editor: Sruthy Sukumaran Featured Cast: Myra Singh Saisha Salvi Charu Shankar Suhaas Ahuja 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.

Michael is a young police officer assigned to infiltrate a Tamil separatist organization in order to bring down one of its top financiers, but as he delves into this community, he gradually begins to identify with those he is supposed to destroy. April 13, 2025 at 12:45:00 PM AFS Cinema United States Premiere Little Jaffna France | Narrative Feature 2024 | 100 mins | French, Tamil Recorded Q&A with writer-director Lawrence Valin TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature - IMFF 2025, Austin, USA The district of 'Little Jaffna' in Paris is the heart of a vibrant Tamil community, where Michael, a young police officer, is assigned to infiltrate a criminal group known for extortion and money laundering for the benefit of separatist rebels in Sri-Lanka. But as he works his way deeper into the heart of the organization, his loyalty will be tested, in a relentless pursuit against one of Paris' most hidden and powerful gangs. Restoration Process About the Artist Lawrence Valin grew up in Paris. In 2017, he graduated from La Fémis with the La Résidence program. In 2020, his medium-length film "The Loyal Man" was selected for the Clermont-Ferrand Festival, where he received the Best Actor Award and was nominated for the César Award for Best Short Film 2021. His first feature film, "Little Jaffna," won the Gan Foundation Award and received the Grand Prix des Prix du Scénario 2023. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Lawrence Valin Writer: Lawrence Valin Marlène Poste Malysone Bovorasmy Gaëlle Macé Arthur Beaupère Yacine Badday Producer(s): Simon Bleuzé Marc Bordure Jérôme Hilal Lawrence Valin Film Editor: Anaïs Manuelli In Collaboration With Guerric Catala Featured Cast: Lawrence Valin Puviraj Raveendran Vela Ramamoorthy Radikaa Sarathkumar Marilou Aussilloux 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.

Anirudh, devastated by job loss, finds comfort in the advice of gas station clerk Sai Santosh. But when a seemingly innocent whistled tune triggers a sudden emotional outburst, the night takes an unexpected turn. April 10, 2025 at 6:30:00 PM AFS Cinema Virtual May 2 - 4, 2025 Austin Premiere Smoke Cheyyaku Bro (Don't Smoke Bro) USA | Short 2024 | 13 mins | Telugu TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL Audience Choice Award for Best Short - IMFF 2025, Austin, USA Oakcliff International Film Festival, Dallas Dallas International Film Festival Shorts, Dallas Anirudh, devastated by job loss, finds comfort in the advice of gas station clerk Sai Santosh. But when a seemingly innocent whistled tune triggers a sudden emotional outburst, the night takes an unexpected turn. Restoration Process About the Artist Prithvi Raj Karreddula is a Dallas-based, award-winning filmmaker originally from Hyderabad, Telangana, India. He has been crafting compelling narratives as a writer and director, seamlessly bridging English and Telugu cinema. His multifaceted expertise extends beyond directing to include cinematography and editing, allowing him to shape every aspect of his projects for a cohesive cinematic experience. In 2024, Prithvi’s short film Smoke Cheyyaku Bro (Don't Smoke Bro), which he directed, garnered significant acclaim, winning the Best Texas Film award at the DIFF SHORTS Film Festival. The film, a dark comedy, was also featured among the best short films of 2024 by Shorted. His 2023 short film, Learning Not To Drown, which he also directed, received recognition at multiple prestigious festivals, including the Burbank International Film Festival, Indie Meme Film Festival in Austin, and the SOHO International Film Festival in New York. A strong believer in blending stories beyond language barriers, Prithvi has a diverse filmography with experience in multiple genres, always weaving his own South Asian roots into his storytelling. With a passion for cinematic innovation and cultural authenticity, he continues to make his mark in contemporary cinema. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Prithvi Raj Karreddula Writer: Prithvi Raj Karreddula Producer(s): Prithvi Raj Karreddula Chiranjeevi Pamidi Film Editor: Prithvi Raj Karreddula Featured Cast: Sateesh Peddaiahgari Raaman BV Darcy Doyle Kaci Fullinwider 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.

A middle-aged woman writes letters and phone calls to her younger self while trapped with her aging mother in their ancestral home, both yearning to escape their unfulfilled lives through a vanishing ritual. Eventive Virtual May 2 - 4, 2025 North America Premiere Sad Letters of an Imaginary Woman India | Narrative Feature 2023 | 79 mins | Hindi TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL Nidhi (43) and her mother Meera (70) exist in a decaying ancestral house, a physical manifestation of their stagnant lives. Nidhi's childhood was marred by a traumatic event involving her father that left her emotionally isolated and perpetually melancholic. She grapples with her past by writing haunting letters to her younger self, lamenting what could have been and warning her of what awaits. Meera harbors deep regrets over an unrequited love affair that never came to fruition, a wistful yearning that compounds her sense of failure as a mother witnessing Nidhi's profound despair. Yet, a flicker of hope remains – the possibility of Nidhi finding solace. When Nidhi discovers an ancient mystical ritual that promises oblivion through vanishing, the idea takes root. Meera, in a last act of love, decides to join Nidhi on this metaphysical journey into nothingness. As mother and daughter perform the rites, the barriers between past and present dissolve. Memories bleed into the present, echoing their anguished cries long suppressed by society's expectations.On one transcendent night, enveloped in darkness, they disappear - two flightless birds finally freed from their corporeal and emotional prisons. An experimental meditation on the complex struggles women endure. Restoration Process About the Artist A recipient of the Asian Cinema Fund and Biennale College Cinema, Nidhi Saxena is a filmmaker whose work explores human vulnerability and existential themes through a distinctly poetic lens. With a formal background in sculpture and fine art, she transitioned to filmmaking after studying at the Film and Television Institute of India. Her approach to cinema, influenced by auteurs like Tsai Ming-Liang and Apichatpong Weerasethakul, seeks to transcend conventional narrative in search of the abstract and spiritual. Nidhi has also worked extensively with marginalized women through UN Population Fund initiatives. She is currently working on her next feature film. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Nidhi Saxena Writer: Nidhi Saxena Producer(s): Vimukthi Jayasundara Ajender Singh Film Editor: Saman Alvitigala Featured Cast: Anamika Tiwari Bhadra Basu Pratiksha Rakesh Bhai Nabanita Chakrabortya Avinash Gupta 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.

Former police officer Thakur Baldev Singh enlists the aid of two contrasting but devoted friends and small-time rogues – the charismatic Veeru and the introspective Jai – to apprehend the notorious dacoit Gabbar Singh, who terrorizes the village of Ramgarh. March 1, 2026 at 2:30:00 PM AFS Cinema Sholay India | Narrative Feature 1975 | 204 mins | Hindi LIVE Q&A with Shehzad Sippy following the screening TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL Former police officer Thakur Baldev Singh enlists the aid of two contrasting but devoted friends and small-time rogues – the charismatic Veeru and the introspective Jai – to apprehend the notorious dacoit Gabbar Singh, who terrorizes the village of Ramgarh. The film delves into the turbulent history between Thakur and Gabbar, marked by a brutal encounter where Gabbar, having escaped imprisonment, massacred Thakur's family and inflicted a severe injury upon him. Amidst the unfolding drama, romantic subplots emerge, as Jai finds affection with Thakur's widowed daughter-in-law, Radha, and Veeru is captivated by Basanti, the spirited local cart driver. Following a series of intense confrontations, Gabbar is ultimately subdued by Jai and Veeru, leading to a dramatic and poignant climax where Thakur delivers him to justice. The stark, dramatic landscape of Ramanagara in South India, meticulously transformed into the village of Ramgarh, provided a breathtaking backdrop for the film's spectacular cinematography. Despite a modest initial reception, the film, which took two and a half years to produce and boasts a runtime exceeding three hours, achieved unprecedented success, dominating the national box office for 19 years. Its dialogues have achieved legendary status, remaining instantly recognizable and frequently quoted by audiences even half a century after its initial release, a testament to Sholay's enduring cultural impact. Photo courtesy: Sippy Films Restoration Process The restoration proved to be a complex endeavor, spanning nearly three years. The primary challenge lay in the condition of the original camera negative, which was severely deteriorated and thus unsuitable for the restoration. Consequently, the restoration predominantly utilized the interpositives located in London and Mumbai. Fortuitously, the colour reversal intermediate discovered in London remarkably contained the original ending and two previously deleted scenes. Film Heritage Foundation had also successfully acquired the original Arri 2C camera instrumental in the filming of ‘Sholay’. Photo courtesy: Sippy Films Given the absence of 70mm prints, Film Heritage Foundation consulted with veteran cinematographer Kamlakar Rao, who had collaborated on ‘Sholay’ with the film's cinematographer, Dwarka Divecha. Rao recounted Divecha's technique of employing a ground glass in front of the camera lens, upon which Rao made markings to delineate the margins of the 70mm frame. This invaluable insight guided our decision to adopt a 2.2:1 aspect ratio for the restored film. Adding to Film Heritage Foundation’s good fortune, the original magnetic sound elements were located at the Sippy Films office. The sound restoration was meticulously conducted utilizing both the original sound negative and these magnetic elements. The final restored version is a culmination of efforts based on two interpositives and two colour reversal intermediates, incorporating the original ending and the deleted scenes, thereby reviving the director's authentic vision for the film. About the Artist Lauded as a cinematic masterpiece, Ramesh Sippy's 1975 magnum opus, Sholay, transcends mere entertainment to stand as a cultural touchstone in Indian filmmaking. Its critical acclaim is underscored by its designation as the greatest Indian film in a 2002 British Film Institute poll and its recognition as ‘Film Of The Millennium’ by BBC India in 1999. This monumental production, a true blockbuster, commenced its historic run at Mumbai's Minerva cinema, captivating audiences for an unprecedented five consecutive years. ----- Shehzad Sippy is the managing director of Sippy Films, an Indian film production studio, founded by his grandfather G.P. Sippy in 1951. Having recently acquired the company from his family, Shehzad is currently focused on developing and producing new content for a global audience. Shehzad started his career in private equity with a focus on investing and facilitating ownership transition in financial services companies. Shehzad received his B.S. in finance from the University of North Texas and his MBA from Columbia Business School. Photo courtesy: Sippy Films Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Ramesh Sippy Writer: Salim-Javed Producer(s): G. P. Sippy Film Editor: M. S. Shinde Featured Cast: Dharmendra Sanjeev Kumar Hema Malini Amitabh Bachchan Jaya Bhaduri Amjad Khan A. K. Hangal Satyen Kappu Iftekhar Leela Mishra Vikas Anand Mac Mohan Keshto Mukherjee Sachin Master Alankar Viju Khote Restoration Effort Led By: Film Heritage Foundation and Sippy Films Pvt. Ltd. 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.

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A fishing trawler is beset by mysterious, possibly supernatural occurrences after they take onboard a young woman lost at sea. Set in the Bay of Bengal and inspired by myth, this genre-defying tale is a gem of modern Bangladeshi cinema. April 15, 2023 at 3:00:00 PM AFS Cinema Virtual April 28 - May 1, 2023 Hawa Bangladesh | Narrative Feature 2022 | 130 min | Bengali, Bangla TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL Winner of 'Best Director' and "Best Actress' at the DC South Asian Film Festival. Bangladesh's Official Oscar Entry for 'Best International Feature' On a small fishing trawler in the Bay of Bengal, a group of sailors is surpised by a highly unusual catch - a young woman adrift at sea. The small, all male crew view this new arrival with a mix of suspicion and attraction. As strange events begin to pile up, the true nature of this visitor is called into question. This mysterious and genre-defying tale draws from fairytale and myth to create a new high point in modern Bangladeshi cinema. Restoration Process About the Artist Mejbaur Rahman Sumon started his career in 2010 as a Television Director after finishing his study in Fine Arts from Dhaka University. His debut film HAWA, released nationally and globally in 2022, screening at festivals from Kolkata to Osaka. The film became Bangladesh’s official entry into the 'Best International Feature Film' category of the 95th Academy Awards and was shortlisted for the Golden Globes. Since it's release, HAWA has been among the most acclaimed and in-demand titles of Bangladeshi cinema both within Bangladesh and around the globe - cementing Sumon as a rising contemporary voice in the industry. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Mejbar Rahman Sumon Writer: Jaheen Faruque Amin Sukorno Shahed Dhiman Mejbaur Rahman Sumon Producer(s): Anjan Chowdhury Pintu Shimul Chandra Biswas A joy Kumar Kundu Film Editor: Sazal Alok Featured Cast: Chanchal Chowdhury Nazifa Tushi Shohel Mondol Nasir Uddin Khan Sariful Razz Sumon Anowar Bablu Bose Rizvi Rizu Mahmud Alam 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.

At 40 years old, Leila has spent her life caring for her parents and four brothers. Caught up in debts worsened by the economic sanctions in Iran, the family argues constantly. As her brothers try to make ends meet, Leila charts a plan for elevating the family's wealth. April 13, 2023 at 5:15:00 PM AFS Cinema Texas Premiere Leila's Brothers Iran | Narrative Feature 2022 | 165 min | Farsi, Persian TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL Winner of the prestigious FIPRESCI Prize at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival At the age of 40, Leila has spent her entire life caring for her parents and four brothers. The family argues constantly and their burdensome debts grow ever more worrying as economic sanctions buffet Iran. While her brothers are struggling to make ends meet, Leila makes a plan. Restoration Process About the Artist Saeed Roustaee was born in Iran in 1989. After graduating from Soore University with a Bachelor's Degree in Cinematography, he first directed three short films, then a documentary which won over 100 awards worldwide. His feature debut LIFE AND A DAY (2016), won 'Best Directing' and 'Best Screenplay' awards at the Fajr International Film Festival, the main film festival in Iran, along with several prizes in international festivals. His second feature, JUST 6.5 (2019), premiered at Venice Orrizonti. It was nominated for the César Award for Best Foreign Film and won the Best Director Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Saeed Roustaee Writer: Saeed Roustaee Producer(s): Saeed Roustaee Javad Noruzbegi Film Editor: Bahram Dehghan Featured Cast: Tarane Alidousti Saeed Poursamimi Navid Mohammadzade iPayman Maadi Farhad Aslani Nayereh Farahani Mohammad Ali Mohammadi Mehdi Hosseinina 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.

It is a poignant journey of eleven-year-old Mithun, as he navigates a challenging path of self-discovery and resilience after a devastating loss shatters his world. April 18, 2024 at 6:15:00 PM AFS Cinema Virtual May 3 - May 5, 2024 International Premiere Mithya India | Narrative Feature 2023 | 98 mins | Kannada, Marathi Virtual Q&A with Filmmaker Sumanth Bhat TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival - 2023 Bengaluru International Film Festival - 2024 Mithya is a journey along- side Mithun, a 11 year old, who is coming to terms with the loss of his parents. We walk in step with his tottering feet, as they search for solid ground. Can a new house be home, can friendships be forged again or is it all just a search for something long gone! Restoration Process About the Artist A software engineer, turned entrepreneur, turned filmmaker, Sumanth has written & directed 4 of the 7 episodes in Ekam, a yet to release web-series, presented by Paramvah Studios. He is also an active member of the writing team at Paramvah. Mithya is his first feature film. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Sumanth Bhat Writer: Sumanth Bhat Producer(s): Rakshit Shetty Film Editor: Bhuvanesh Manivannan Featured Cast: Athish S Shetty, Prakash Thuminad 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.

Kuxhol is traveling to the city with Goti, the horse from heaven. Kuxhol shares the amazing story of their adventures with anyone he meets - claiming Goti is the fastest horse in the world. At first, everyone finds this bizarre as they can see that Goti is not a horse, but a donkey. Yet, eventually, his audience begins to believe in his tale of Heaven’s Horse. Filmocracy Virtual April 28 - May 1, 2023 The Horse From Heaven India | Short 2022 | 15 mins | Assamese, English TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL "Best Cinematography" - Himalayan Film Festival Restoration Process About the Artist Maharshi (Tuhin) Kashyap is a final year student at Satyajit Ray Film And Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata and a practicing film-maker hailing from Assam. He has written screenplays for three feature length films Boroxun-Songs For Rains, Hero, and Bulu Film. His short film, Kaan Phus Phusot Phus Phusoni, won best student film at International Moving Film Festival, Iran. His recent short, Mur Ghurar Duronto Goti, has been screened at the Cineteca National Museum, Mexico as well as Kolkata International Film Festival and others. His documentary film, Water Water Everywhere was screened at Nagari Film Festival, Urban Lens Film Festival and others. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Maharshi (Tuhin) Kashyap Writer: Maharshi (Tuhin) Kashyap Producer(s): Film Editor: Featured Cast: Atul Pachani 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.