The film follows four young girls that routinely travel from Lyari to a musical school in another area. The travel is long and dangerous, plus the girls' families are not always supportive of their desire to learn music as they feel that it violates Islamic law. Lyari Notes follows the girls over a three-year period. Eventive Virtual May 2 - 4, 2025 Lyari Notes India, Pakistan | Documentary 2015 | 70 mins | Urdu TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL World Premiere and nominated by the Alliance of Women Film Journalists – EDA Award at the International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam – Nov 2015 Winner of the Golden Boddhisattva Award (Patna) at the Bodhisattva International Film Festival – Feb 2017 Winner of excellence in best documentary feature (red category) at the ARY Film Festival (Karachi) – May 2017 In Pakistan a rock star teaches a group of girls to express themselves through music in Karachi’s most volatile district. Hamza Jafri travels in an armed vehicle. He is a musician famous for his hard hitting political lyrics since the 1990s. Since then religious fundamentalism has been on the rise with shops selling music torched, concerts bombed and musicians threatened with death. Seeing the shrinking space for music and artists Hamza opens a music school. Captured over 3 years Lyari Notes is the narrative of four young girls who attend Hamza’s music school and learn what it takes to express oneself despite the cycles of violence. Restoration Process About the Artist Miriam Chandy Menacherry (Director and Producer from India) – Founder, Director at Filament Pictures a Mumbai based production house. She has pitched and produced award winning films that have been broadcast on international channels like the National Geographic channel, BBC world and Arte. Her last documentary The Rat Race weaves together the narratives of rat killers in Mumbai. It won the Mipdoc Co production Challenge at Cannes, premiered at IDFA and won the audience awards at Florence and Kerala. It is one of the rare documentaries to get theatrical releases in 3 Indian cities winning critical and popular acclaim. Maheen Zia (Director and Producer from Pakistan) – Pakistani film director and editor. She has a degree in radio/tv production from Drake University USA and teaches at the Department of visual studies Karachi University. She is one of the founding members of Pakistan’s young international film festival – The Kara Film Festival and has served as a juror at international film festivals in Tehran, Tampere, Hyderabad and Kabul. She is the winner of the India EU Film initiative- Berlin Today Award- for her film `Match Factor’. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Miriam Chandy Menacherry & Maheen Zia Writer: Miriam Chandy Menacherry Abhijit Kachhap Likokba Sangtam Maheen Zia Producer(s): Miriam Chandy Menacherry Iikka Vehkalahti Maheen Zia Film Editor: Monisha R Baldawa Sankalp Meshram Featured Cast: 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.

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 Texas Premiere Lost. USA | Short 2024 | 9 mins | N/A TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL 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. Restoration Process About the Artist 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. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Rohit Battepati Writer: Producer(s): Film Editor: Santosh Vemula Featured Cast: Raviteja Cherughattu 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 paparazzi from Nepal, faces off against fellow photographers while confronting his brother's deteriorating health. April 25, 2026 at 10:30:00 AM AFS Cinema Texas Premiere P For Paparazzi India | Short 2024 | 27 mins | Hindi, Maithili Recorded Q&A with writer-director Divya Kharnare Shown as part of the Saturday shorts program TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL Jury Award for Best Editing (Short Documentary) - 16th IDSFFK 2024 Dharamshala International Film Festival 2024 International Film Festival of India 2024, Goa Amidst the chaos of flashing lights and crazy crowds, Manoj, an established paparazzi from Nepal, faces off against fellow photographers in a high-stakes race to capture the most sensational photos. Despite his years of experience and connections with celebrities ranging from Boney Kapoor to Alia Bhatt, Manoj confronts the harsh reality of his brother's deteriorating health. As Manoj navigates the blurry nights of Mumbai during Diwali, his encounters with celebrities offer glimpses into the glitz and glamour but also highlight the human side behind the fame. With each click of the camera, Manoj grapples with the moral dilemmas of his profession and the weight of his brother's fate hanging in the balance. Will Manoj's connections and perseverance be enough to secure the funds needed for his brother's treatment, or will it be a solitary battle of survival? Restoration Process About the Artist Divya Kharnare is a filmmaker with over eight years of experience across fiction and feature-length documentaries. He began his career at Marathi digital platform BhaDiPa, directing comedy sketches, music videos, and non-fiction content, before moving into independent filmmaking. His documentaries- 15 Seconds A Lifetime, P for Paparazzi, and Letters to My Grandma have premiered at festivals including IFFI, DIFF, NYIFF, and IDSFFK, earning awards such as the DOC Aviv Award and multiple jury mentions. A Direction graduate from Film & Television Institute of India, Divya has worked across international labs and productions, including the Kyoto Filmmakers Lab, DOC NYC Storytelling Incubator, Doc Edge Kolkata, Amazon Original Love Storiyaan, and MAMI Select 2025. He is currently developing his debut fiction feature and a non-fiction feature in post-production, exploring socially rooted stories with touches of magic realism. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Divya Kharnare Writer: Pranav Patil Divya Kharnare Producer(s): Rajiv Mehrotra Yugandhar Salvi Film Editor: Pranav Patil Featured Cast: Manoj Mahara Jafar Khan Manohar Mahara 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.

In a coastal town, women are not allowed to sing. A teenager joins a singing competition while hiding his true voice in a sinister way. April 25, 2026 at 10:30:00 AM AFS Cinema Texas Premiere Ali Bangladesh, Philippines | Short 2025 | 15 mins | Bengali Shown as part of the Saturday shorts program TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL Cannes Film Festival 2025, France - World Premiere, Special Mention Kyiv International Short Film Festival 2025, Ukraine -Special Mention SEMINCI – Valladolid International Film Festival 2025, Spain - Youth Jury Award Poddopur is a lily pluckers village where women's voices are forbidden, Ali (15) and his mother lead a life surrounded by the mountains. Ali has a secret on his throat that Salma diligently stitches and conceals. When news of a singing competition offering a chance to migrate to the other side of the mountain reaches them, Salma is filled with hope, as Ali is a talented singer. But Ali refuses to take part in the competition. Ali’s mother tries to convince him as she hopes, since godly people live on that side, Ali’s secret will be saved and she won’t have to whisper to his son anymore. But Ali’s interest is somewhere else. Ali gets caught red handed to his mother while watching a female song on the TV! Ali’s mom reacts badly and thrashes the TV down and scolds Ali! Finally, the time comes. Ali auditions for the competition, wowing the godly judges who came here to pick the one from the other side of the mountain. Perhaps he’ll win. But he is found sitting on a boat. Ali discards the cloth, hiding his secret wound. As the stitches come undone, an ethereal female voice escapes from his throat, revealing his true identity. Ali’s mother, tearful but resigned, no longer holds him back. For the first time, Ali finds both freedom and peace through his song. Restoration Process About the Artist Adnan Al Rajeev made his directorial debut in 2008 with a TV fiction for the local industry. He gained widespread acclaim for his subsequent fictional works, including Bikal Belar Pakhi and YouTumor. His distinct approach, combining family dynamics and realistic storytelling, has cemented his place as a leading figure in Bangladesh’s contemporary cinema. Beyond directing, Adnan is the founder of Runout Films, one of Bangladesh’s premier production houses. Over the past 12 years, the company has produced nearly 1000 commercials, with Adnan personally directing over 500 of them. This journey helped Adnan to uplift his visual taste on a global standard. He also served as the Executive Producer of Radikals, a Filipino short film directed by Arvin Belarmino, the first ever Bangladesh-Philippine co-production, which had its world premiere in the 63rd Semaine de la Critique at Cannes 2024, marking his entry into the international film scene. Adnan is now focused primarily on directing projects for global markets and world cinema. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Adnan Al Rajeev Writer: Adnan Al Rajeev Producer(s): Tanveer Hossain Kristine De Leon Film Editor: Taiful Chowdhury Shadhin Featured Cast: Al Amin Indrani Shoma 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.

Join author Kalki Koechlin in this unique graphic narrative. A candid, funny and relatable book on pregnancy and parenting that anyone even thinking about motherhood has been waiting for. AN INDIE MEME LIT EVENT 1/3 Mon. April 17th, 2023 @ 6:00PM Central Library, 710 W Cesar Chavez Demo Area Indie Meme presents a book reading of THE ELEPHANT IN THE WOMB Graphic Novel | 256 Pages | Penguin India | March 2022 LIVE, In-Person reading w/ author Kalki Koechlin, moderated by author and poet Usha Akella An author reading and discussion, followed by book signing. Limited copies of the book available, please pre-order now if you would like your book signed. In this unique graphic narrative, we finally have that candid, funny and relatable book on pregnancy and parenting that mothers, expectant mothers, and anyone even thinking about motherhood have been waiting for. This book blends the deeply private with the blazingly political with uproariously funny art and spellbinding honesty. THANK YOU to the City of Austin for their support, Austin Central Library for hosting this program and UT Moody College for being a Community Partner. RSVP to the Free Event * Please turn off your ad blocker to RSVP. About the Author Kalki Koechlin is a French-Indian actor and writer living in Mumbai. She studied drama and theatre at Goldsmiths, and made her screen debut as Chanda in the critically acclaimed drama Dev.D in 2009. She is also the recipient of a National Award and Best Actress award at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival for the internationally applauded film, Margarita with a Straw. She hosts a podcast with the BBC called My Indian Life, and is part of several series streaming on Netflix and Amazon. Throughout her career, she has continued to write and perform for the theatre, often with her original material. She won the Hindu Metroplus Playwright Award in 2009 along with co writer Prashant Prakash for Skeleton Woman. Her work often addresses the issues of women's rights and freedom of speech. She is a feminist and an advocate of children's rights. About the Illustrator Valeriya Polyanychko is a multi-disciplinary visual artist dabbling between the vast expanses of doodles, illustrations, animation and production designs for motion pictures. As a young artist, she was spotted in the small town of Shostka, for finishing her art school exams at the age of just fourteen, whereupon she was offered a scholarship University Of Culture and Art in Kiev, Ukraine. In 2010, she was identified as an upcoming design talent in Ukraine and won a grant prize ( Top 10 Young Designers Of Ukraine competition). This offered her the opportunity to travel to Asia. As a lifelong admirer of Asian art forms, she has travelled extensively across India, Vietnam, Nepal, Malaysia and Thailand, adopting much of the vibrant design sensibility into her own aesthetic. She presently lives between India and Ukraine, and can often be found sketching her four cats and three dogs - all of whom she considers her muse. The forest behind her home is her favourite place to daydream. About the Moderator Usha Akella has authored four books of poetry, one chapbook, and scripted/produced one musical drama. The Waiting was published by Sahitya Akademi, India’s highest Literary authority in 2019 and due for release in Spanish. She was selected as a Creative Ambassador for the City of Austin for 2015 and 2019. She is the founder of Matwaala the first South Asian Diaspora Poets Festival in the US. In 2018 she graduated with an MSt. in Creative Writing from Cambridge University, UK. She read with a group of eminent South Asian Diaspora poets at the House of Lords in June 2016. Her work has been included in the Harper Collins Anthology of Indian English Poets. She is the founder of the Poetry Caravan in New York and Austin which takes poetry readings to the disadvantaged in women’s shelters, senior homes, and hospitals. She is widely published and interviewed, has delivered keynotes, and has been invited to many international poetry festivals. Synopsis Motherhood is the greatest job in the world...right? In this unique graphic narrative, we finally have that candid, funny and relatable book on pregnancy and parenting that mothers, expectant mothers, and anyone even thinking about motherhood have been waiting for. Actor and writer Kalki Koechlin opens up about so much that we don't talk about-the social stigma of abortions and unmarried pregnancies, the toll that pregnancy takes on a body, the unacknowledged domestic labour of women, the emotional rollercoaster of giving birth, bouts of postpartum melancholy, the unsolicited parenting advice from every corner, and of course the innumerable moments of joy and delight in bringing a real little person into this very weird world. With whimsy and compassion, with uproariously funny art and spellbinding honesty, The Elephant in the Womb blends the deeply private with the blazingly political. It's an eye-opener for anyone who has ever thought that pregnancy was all about the glow and that motherhood was all about fulfilment. From fixing broken parts to enduring untimely farts, Koechlin's nuanced prose-gorgeously illustrated by Valeriya Polyanychko-tells us the bare-faced truth about the physiological discomfort and manic expectations that make it a bittersweet experience. With a combination of personal essays and think-pieces, journal entries captured in real time, reflections and anecdotes, this is the motherload! Thank you to our Community Partners

2022 See-zar Tain (Evening Clouds) Short Burmese mins 18 Virtual 2022 Myanmar Drama Since their factory closed down, San Kyi (18) and her close friend Theint Theint Oo (25) are out of work. San was set up for an arranged marriage by her mother, but since Theint planned to return to her hometown to work, San decided to run away with her. But can the two rely on one another in their plan? Singapore International Film Festival - Singapore, Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival - India, Mini Kino Film Week - Indonesia, Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival Tickets 5/3/24, 11:00 AM Eventive Writer/Director Aung Phyoe Aung Phyoe is a writer, director and film editor. He was born in Pakokku, Upper Myanmar. He is a B.Eng graduate from Nanyang Technological University Singapore, where he developed a strong interest in cinema entering the cinema club at the university. He also began to take film classes and attend screenings at the Film Society in Singapore, which reinforced his passion for cinema. Later, he earned a Diploma in Editing from Mumbai-based film school, Whistling Woods International. His first short film ''Seasonal Rain'' was screened for Open Doors Screening at 71 st Locarno Film Festival and he edited a feature film ''Murder on the Road to Kathmandu'' (2018). In 2018, he participated in the Autumn Meeting's Director Workshop mentored by Tran Anh Hung. His second short film ''Cobalt Blue'' was selected to Pardi di domani - International Competition at 72nd Locarno Film Festival, which became the first Myanmar short film to be selected for competition. His feature film project "Fruit Gathering'' won the Main Jury Prize at Myanmar Script Fund (2017), the Autumn Meeting's Grand Prix in Vietnam (2018) and CNC Development Prize at Locarno's Open Doors Hub (2020). In 2018, he co-founded ''3-ACT Cinema Magazine': which promotes film education and national cinematic heritage and is actively involved in the Myanmar Independent film scene. Director: Aung Phyoe Producer: Thu Thu Shein, Thaiddhi, Claire Marquet, Vit Janecek, Claire Marquet, Vit Janecek Writer: Aung Phyoe Cast: Nandar Myat Aung, Thiri May Thu, May Paing Soe, Mg Bhone Editor: Thu Thu Shein Crew: Thaiddhi, Benjamin Laurent This Event is supported in part by a Mini Grant from Humanities Texas. Community Partners for the Film More Films

In a small town of 1960's India, where cinema is forbidden for women, a 14-year-old embarks on a quest to watch her first film. 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 Texas Premiere The First Film India | Short 2023 | 19 mins | Hindi Followed by the film And, Towards Happy Alleys . TICKETS WATCH ONLINE Limited tickets available on site. Audience Choice Award for Best Short - IMFF 2025, Austin, USA Festival de Cortos de Bogotá - BOGOSHORTS Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival South Asian Film Festival of Montréal – Montréal In a small town in 1960s India, deep-rooted in orthodox traditions, cinema is believed to corrupt young minds, and women are forbidden to watch films. Devi, a 14-year-old girl, is obsessed with films and dreams of watching one in a theater. Her neighbor, Mohan, a 14-year-old mute cinephile boy, narrates stories from his favorite films to her at night. When an unforeseen incident shakes their world, Devi has one last chance to pursue her dream. The First Film celebrates friendship, courage, and the magic of cinema. 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 Piyush Thakur is an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). His student short film The Real Millionaire was nominated for the International Grand Prix at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and traveled globally to more than 75 film festivals, winning multiple awards. He was selected from India for the International Student Film Camp in Serbia. After FTII, he worked as an assistant director to Sanjay Leela Bhansali on the film Bajirao Mastani. He was also selected for the Kyoto Filmmakers Lab in Japan and Platform Busan at the Busan International Film Festival. His latest short film, The First Film, had its world premiere at the Festival de Cortos de Bogotá - BOGOSHORTS in Colombia and was recognized as a 'Short Film Market Pick' by the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and 'Film Bazaar Recommends' by NFDC Doc Film Bazaar. It won The German Star of India – Audience Award at the Indian Film Festival of Stuttgart and Best Short Narrative International Award at the Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival. Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation Trailer Credits Crew: Director: Piyush Thakur Writer: Piyush Thakur Deepak Lohana Producers: Piyush Thakur Film Editor: Piyush Thakur Featured Cast: Priyanka Beriya Vasudev Nishad Tony Chawada Usha Athaley Yuvraj Singh Shibanee Mukherjee Rajveer Mukherjee Ajay Athaley 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!

The 30 min documentary, MY CHILD IS GAY AND I AM HAPPY, is a series of interviews of some remarkable parents, whose children represent the LGBTQ community. It shows their journey, from being unsuspecting and often unaccepting, to being the caring, supportive parents they are today. My Child is Gay and I am Happy Friday, Jan 18th 2019 The Austin School of Film 2200 Tillery Street Austin,TX 78723 INDIA | Documentary |30min | Marathi & English with English subtitles AUSTIN SCREENING Wednesday, November 14th 2018 | 7:30 PM AFS Cinema, 6406 N IH-35 Suite 3100, Austin, Texas 78752 SYNOPSIS The 30 min documentary, MY CHILD IS GAY AND I AM HAPPY, is a series of interviews of some remarkable parents, whose children represent the LGBTQ community. It shows their journey, from being unsuspecting and often accepting, to being the caring, supportive parents they are today. In each case, the parent and the child are a source of great inspiration to the community. The film is an important documentary which gives the viewer, a peak into the lives of the LGBTQ community in the conservative society of India, where homosexuality used to be a crime and it was only recently decriminalized by the Supreme court in a historic ruling. The film premiered at Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, 2016. Later screened at many Universities and International Film Festivals, namely Prague India Film Festival, Seattle Film Festival, as part of Kashish Forward - visited 12 - 15 Universities, Institutes and Colleges. IIM Ahmedabad, IIT-B - Mumbai, Jadhavpur University, HR College, Sophia College Mumbai amongst a host of other colleges, all over India. COMMUNITY PARTNER DETAILS Indie Meme Mixer & Short Film Screening Date: Friday, January 18 at 7:30 PM @ The Austin School Of Film 2200 Tillery Street Austin,TX 78723 The event is free for Indie Meme Members and Guests Get/Renew your 2019 membership here - https://www.indiememe.org/membership Film to be preceded by SARI screened at the 1st IMFF Youth Program 2018 This film is about a mother showing her child how to wear a sari, but reveals a surprise at the end. This is spreading a message to accept people for who they are. Directed by Ana Dragomir and a team from Anderson High School consisting of Dhruv Ruttala and Aunteek Naser. Drinks & Dessert sponsors TRAILER DIRECTOR'S BIO SOPAN MULLER has worked with various genres. His experience in filmmaking of more than 20 years, has been extensive, having handled practically every format of filmmaking - from Advertising & Corporate films to Documentaries and Feature Films to Television. Sopan was involved in feature films in the dirction and production departments of Dev Benegal’s ‘ENGLISH, AUGUST’ and ‘SPLIT WIDE OPEN’ and Sunhil Sippy’s ‘SNIP’. He co-produced Dev Benegal’s ROAD, MOVIE. The film travelled to all the major international film festivals – Berlin, Toronto, Tokyo and Tribeca. STILLS

‘The Road Not Taken’ revolves around a woman who decided to quit her day job to pursue her acting career, only to encounter a challenge that compels her to reconsider her decision. April 17, 2024 at 6:15:00 PM AFS Cinema Virtual May 3 - May 5, 2024 North America Premiere The Road Not Taken India | Short 2024 | 13 mins | Telugu TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL Indian World Film Festival 24, Hyderabad ‘The Road Not Taken’ revolves around a woman who decided to quit her day job to pursue her acting career, only to encounter a challenge that compels her to reconsider her decision. Restoration Process About the Artist Born and Grew up in India, Sarthwik's debut as a filmmaker came to life with a short narrative, "The Road Not Taken." As a self-taught writer/director, he cultivated a versatile taste for storytelling, finding inspiration in a varied spectrum of Indian and global cinema. This exploration led him to recognize the profound influence films can wield in navigating personal narratives intertwined with universal themes. Having contributed to various short film projects in supporting crew roles, Sarthwik recently wrapped up the shooting phase of his latest project, “ORGANIZIZED,” which is currently in the post-production stage. Inspired by Martin Scorsese's wisdom that "You can train to become a better filmmaker by being YOURSELF,” Sarthwik is learning to explore the realm of cinema through authentic artistic expression. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Sarthwik Bollu Writer: Sarthwik Bollu Producer(s): Prithvi Raj Karreddula Film Editor: Featured Cast: Sirisha Andavolu 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 buddhist fable-like story about the guilt of a childhood incident of killing an ant while washing hands in the sink. Animated through photographic sequences painted with golds and grays, the Zen-like visuals sweep into one another with whispering monologues and glitching noises reflecting the realms of cosmos, power, guilt, prayers, and existence. April 20, 2024 at 10:30:00 AM AFS Cinema Virtual May 3 - May 5, 2024 Texas Premiere Phar Yar Sin (The Altar) Myanmar | Short,Documentary 2023 | 11 mins | Burmese TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL Internationale Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen Germany A buddhist fable-like story about the guilt of a childhood incident of killing an ant while washing hands in the sink. Animated through photographic sequences painted with golds and grays, the Zen-like visuals sweep into one another with whispering monologues and glitching noises reflecting the realms of cosmos, power, guilt, prayers, and existence. Restoration Process About the Artist Moe Myat May Zarchi (born in 1994, Myanmar) is a filmmaker, musician and a multidisciplinary artist. Her short films have been screened at Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg, Women Make Waves Int’l Film Festival, Minikino Film Festival and have won awards at Singapore International Short Film Festival (SGIFF), Bangkok Asean Film Festival (BAFF) and UK Asian Film Festival. She was also a finalist in Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize in Moving Image and won the Prince Claus Seed Awards as an Emerging Artist. In most of her works, Moe loves to explore the metaphysical, identity, femininity and personal aspects through innovative use of visuals and sound. She also founded a cinema magazine and organization called “3-ACT” to support cinema education in Myanmar. https://moemyatmayzarchi.cargo.site/ Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Moe Myat May Zarchi Writer: Moe Myat May Zarchi Producer(s): 3-ACT Film Editor: Moe Myat May Zarchi Featured Cast: 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.

An elderly couple, desperate for a divine cure for their adult son before they grow too old to protect him, journeys to the Maha Kumbh. April 22, 2026 at 6:15:00 PM AFS Cinema FREE for members Texas Premiere Vimukt (In Search of the Sky) India | Narrative Feature 2024 | 87 mins | Hindi Virtual Q&A with writer-director Jitank Gurjar and lead actor Nikhil Yadav Preceeded by the short film Hills Don't Dance Alone TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL Toronto International Film Festival - Netpac jury award International Film Festival of India Vimukt (In Search of the Sky) follows an aging couple, Jasrath and Vidya, who are deeply devoted to their intellectually disabled son, Naraan—a sweet, curious soul adrift in his own world. For the parents, life is a grueling cycle of labor and a growing, painful awareness that they may soon be too old to care for him. Desperate for a miracle to "heal" their son's mind, the family embarks on an epic, soul-stirring pilgrimage to the once-in-a-century Maha Kumbh, the largest religious gathering on Earth. But as they navigate the swirling lights and shadowy figures of the festival, the journey becomes less about a physical cure and more about a profound internal awakening. This poignant and visually stunning debut from Jitank Singh Gurjar offers a rare, intimate look at a rural Indian family grappling with life’s most difficult questions—the ones that have no easy answers. Restoration Process About the Artist Jitank Gurjar is an independent filmmaker and theatre artist with over 11 years of experience, spanning theatre, ad films, music videos, and documentaries. A self-taught storyteller, he made his directorial debut with BAASAN, a regional art film rooted in rural folklore, officially screened at IFFI 54 and the 2024 Cannes Marché du Film. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Jitank Singh Gurjar Writer: Jitank Singh Gurjar, Pooja Vishal Sharma Producer(s): Pooja Vishal Sharma Film Editor: Pavan Theurkar Featured Cast: 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.

2023 Ullarivu Short Malayalam mins 14 Texas Premiere In-Person, Virtual 2023 India Kids, Drama Ullarivu is about a young girl's transformative journey from a carefree child of the earth into a cautious young girl in the world, as she pieces together the hidden meanings and unfair rules of the patriarchal world. Her love for nature and exploration comes to a standstill when she is forced to understand that her access to the world itself is limited due to her gender. Even though she is brought up in a loving, protective family, helmed by her father, the family dynamics are deeply rooted in patriarchal rules and values. In a world that assigns pink for girls and blue for boys at birth itself, it's only a matter of time until the rules of subjugation are inflicted upon even the most hungry, wild souls. Mumbai Film Festival (2023) International Kolkata Short Film Festival (2024) Tickets 4/19/24, 6:15 PM All Badges, Individual Tickets AFS Cinema Director, Writer & Producer Sumi Mathai Sumi Mathai is an advertising professional turned filmmaker based in India. Her debut short film 'Detour' was selected as one of the 10 scripts to be produced by Jio Cinema, from a nationwide submission of 900+ entries. Detour premiered at the Mumbai Film Festival (2017), and won the Special Jury Mention. It was also screened at Indische Filmfestival Stuttgart, Bangalore International Short Film Festival, Bucharest ShortCut Cinefest, and IndoGerman Filmweek, Berlin. Ullarivu (The Awakening) is her second short film which she produced through a crowdfunding campaign, apart from writing and directing it. She is passionate about telling stories that explore lived experiences of young girls and women, with empathy and integrity. It is her hope that her stories can shift existing cultural narratives around womanhood, and also contribute towards building a world that is kinder and more inclusive. She is currently developing her first feature film screenplay which was one of the finalists at the Pitch Fest conducted by Screenwriters Association India. Director: Sumi Mathai Producer: Sumi Mathai Writer: Sumi Mathai Cast: Devananda Shamej, Pradeep Joseph, Nandini Gopalakrishna, Shivarchana Rajesh, Aksa Prasad, Minnu Elsa Joshy, Krishna Raj & Arun Kalabhavan Editor: Abhishikta Kaila Crew: Anand Ravi, Anjo John, Sreejith Sreenivasan This Event is supported in part by a Mini Grant from Humanities Texas. Community Partners for the Film More Films