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 Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation Indie Meme Special 10th Year Retrospective Showcase Lyari Notes India, Pakistan | Documentary 2015 | 70 mins | Urdu ORIGINAL FILM PAGE WATCH ONLINE Limited tickets available on site. 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. 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 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’. Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation Trailer Credits Crew: Director: Miriam Chandy Menacherry & Maheen Zia Writer: Miriam Chandy Menacherry Abhijit Kachhap Likokba Sangtam Maheen Zia Producers: Miriam Chandy Menacherry Iikka Vehkalahti Maheen Zia Film Editor: Monisha R Baldawa Sankalp Meshram 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 Places I've Called My Own Short Hindi mins 28 Texas Premiere In-Person, Virtual 2023 France, India Drama, LGBT, Family After several years in the US, Tara, in the midst of her IVF process, returns to India for the funeral of her father. There, she finds a mother in denial about her sexual orientation, an ex-girlfriend who has rebuilt her life with a man, and the shadow of the paterfamilias that continues to hang over the home. PÖFF Shorts 2023, Chéries-Chéris 2023, Créteil 2024 Tickets 4/20/24, 10:30 AM All Badges, Shorts Program Ticket AFS Cinema Writer / Director Sushma Khadepaun Born and raised in India, Sushma is a writer/director based in New York. Her student short film 'ANITA' had its world premiere in Venice's Orizzonti 2020. She is the first Indian female director in competition in Venice since 2000. Her new film PLACES I’VE CALLED MY OWN premiered in November 2023 at PÖFF Shorts. Director: Sushma Khadepaun Producer: Damien Megherbi, Justin Pechberty, Avantika Sigh Writer: Sushma Khadepaun Cast: Aditi Vasudev, Bhumika Dube, Amardeep Jha Editor: Clémence Carré Crew: This Event is supported in part by a Mini Grant from Humanities Texas. Community Partners for the Film More Films

1947. The ravages of Partition compel an artist to sell his ancestral home and move to Pakistan. When the man buying the house learns of the artist's invaluable miniature collection he schemes to get ahold of it, but all is not what it seems. Back to Film Program IN THEATERS: RK/RKAY April 16th, 2022 AFS Cinema WATCH ONLINE: April 22-25th, 2022 Eventive NOTE: This film is available only in theaters. Miniaturist of Junagadh India I 29 mins I Historical Drama I 2021 I Hindi, Urdu w/ English subtitles Winner of 'Best Short Film' at Imagine India & 'Best Actor' for Raj Arjun at IFFSA - Toronto 1947. The ravages of Partition have compelled an old artist, Husyn Naqqash, to sell his ancestral home in Western India and move with his family to Karachi, Pakistan. When the opportunistic man who has bought the house learns that Husyn is a well-known miniature painter with an invaluable collection - he schemes to get hold of the art. But all is not what it seems. There is a secret about the collection that Husyn's family is holding back. Not only from the buyer - but also from Husyn himself. This film screens with the feature RK/RKAY , in theaters . WATCH IN THEATERS About the Artist Kaushal Oza was born and raised in Bombay and is a graduate of Film Direction from the reputed Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. He has twice been awarded the National Film Award. His first short VAISHNAV JAN TOH was awarded 'Best Debut Director of a Short Film' in 2010 and his second, AFTERGLOW, won the National Award for the 'Best Short Film on Family Values' in 2013. AFTERGLOW has consistently rated as one of the best short films to watch on YouTube & popular online portals and is nearing 1 million views. His films have won 15+ 'Best Film' Awards in places like London, Mumbai, Kolkatta and Delhi and have been showcased at festivals from LA to Singapore. In 2021, he wrote & directed and a 30 minute short ,The Miniaturist of Junagadh, which features Naseeruddin Shah, Rasika Dugal, Raj Arjun and Padmavati Rao. The film premiered at NYIFF. He is currently in development of his first feature , LITTE THOMAS, which was selected for the NFDC Screenwriters Lab and mentored at CineKid Film Festival, Amsterdam. It was also a part of the NFDC Co-production Market at Film Bazar.

Chaoren, an eleven year-old boy from a rural fishing village, fights to attend and excel in school, amidst the threats of poverty and displacement. Eventive Virtual May 2 - 4, 2025 International Premiere Eikhoigi Yum (Our Home) India | Narrative Feature 2022 | 86 mins | Manipuri TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL IMFF2023 - Audience Choice Award for the Best Narrative Feature at IMFF, Austin, USA 69th National Film Awards, Best Manipuri Film, India Best Director at Kazan International Muslim Festival, Russia FIPRESCI Award for the Best International Film at 27IFFK, Kerala/India Belonging to an isolated fishing community of the Loktak lake, Chaoren makes the best use of his exclusive existence by excelling in school. When the canoe he uses every day to attend school has to be sold off because of his father’s illness, his spirit is not dampened. He beats the long distance from his shanty floating hut to his school by swimming his way through. But when the Government issues an eviction notice demanding Chaoren’s family to leave their home, his dreams are left with an angst of a displaced person. Restoration Process About the Artist Romi Meitei is prolific filmmaker who has produced several box-office hits. Besides notching up commercial successes, his films have been screened in world-renowned film festivals including IFFI, MIFF, IFFK, and others. He is recipient of the prestigious FIPRESCI and NETPAC awards, and well as the 'Best Director' Prize at the Sailadhar Film Awards in Assam. His projects have also received several Manipur State Film Awards, including 'Best Feature Film', 'Art Director', 'Child Artiste', and 'Best Editor' for EIKHOIGI YUM at the MSFA 22 award ceremony. He is the Chairman of Mami Thawan Foundation, which aims to render services for the welfare of Manipur. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Romi Meitei Writer: Romi Meitei Producer(s): Chingsubam Sheetal, Romi Meitei Film Editor: Johni Meitei 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.

A young sex worker embarks on a surreal journey across a dystopian city to raise money for a ritual that promises to lift a mysterious curse hanging over her life. April 25, 2026 at 8:15:00 PM AFS Cinema Fucktoys USA | Narrative Feature 2025 | 106 mins | English 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 DONATE TO NEPAL 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 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! This program was made possible in part with a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

April 26, 2026 at 3:45:00 PM AFS Cinema Little Fishies India 2025 Shown as part of the Family Shorts Program TICKETS BUY A BADGE 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 Film restoration process Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation 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!

April 26, 2026 at 3:45:00 PM AFS Cinema United States Premiere Waagh (The Leopard) India 2025 Shown as part of the Family Shorts Program TICKETS BUY A BADGE FrightFest, London 2025 Beijing International Film Festival 2025 Ahmedabad Children and Youth Film Festival 2025 When a leopard wanders into a redeveloped apartment complex in Mumbai - its natural habitat long since encroached upon - fear quickly spreads. Mumbai is the only city in the world with a forest nestled within its limits, where leopards co-exist with malls, highways, and high rises. When the leopard is found dead, 8-year-old Apu’s world begins to distort. Waagh is a tense psychological drama that explores childhood paranoia, silent fears, and the primal instincts simmering beneath the fragile surface of urban life. Restoration Process Film restoration process Photo courtesy: Film Heritage Foundation About the Artist Mukti Krishan is a filmmaker and writer whose work spans fiction, documentary, and animation. A graduate of Vancouver Film School, she began her career in VFX and animation before transitioning to live-action storytelling, with a focus on emotionally resonant, psychologically layered narratives. Her fiction projects have been supported by the Asia Society Fellowship Grant and the Mumbai Mantra–Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab. As a documentary director, her work has been commissioned by Discovery, YouTube Originals, and Zee5. Her independent film Raqs-e-Inquilab, set in Kashmir, was featured on MUBI and The Atlantic Selects. In the commercial space, she has directed acclaimed campaigns for MTV, Google, Lux, and Asian Paints, among others, earning recognition including a Kyoorius Blue Elephant finalist and a Digies Award for Best Short. Across formats, Mukti’s films primarily explore themes of identity, silence, and the hidden interior lives of her characters. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Mukti Krishan Writer: Mukti Krishan Kamya Nair Producer(s): Mukti Krishan Film Editor: Abhro Banerjee Featured Cast: Arjun Amedkar Sagar Deshmukh Sharvari Patankar Thank you to our community partners for this screening!

2024 Girls Will Be Girls Narrative Feature Hindi, English mins 112 In-Person 2024 India Drama, Coming of Age In a strict boarding school nestled in the Himalayas, 16-year-old Mira discovers desire and romance; but her sexual, rebellious awakening is disrupted by her mother who never got to come-of-age herself. In-Person Q+A with Filmmaker Shuchi Talati Tickets 4/21/24, 6:15 PM All Badges, Individual Tickets AFS Cinema Writer / Director Shuchi Talati Shuchi Talati is a filmmaker from India whose work challenges dominant narratives around gender, sexuality, and South Asian identity. Her feature film, Girls Will Be Girls, premiered in competition at Sundance where it won an Audience Award and a Special Jury Award. Girls has been a recipient of Aide Aux Cinémas du Monde and Sørfond grants, and the ArteKINO and VFF Talent Award at the Berlinale Co - Production Market. It has also been selected for Gotham Week, Berlinale Script Station and Cine Qua Non Script Lab. Her short film, Period Piece, about an afternoon of period sex, was selected for SXSW. Mae and Ash won numerous awards before becoming a Vimeo Staff Pick. Shuchi is an alum of Berlinale Talents and her work has also been recognized by the New York State Council for the Arts and Région Île-de-France. She is a graduate of the American Film Institute. She lives in NYC and is a member of the Brooklyn Filmmakers Collective, the Bitchitra Collective and the Freelance Solidarity Project. Director: Shuchi Talati Producer: Rikki Agarwal, Eléonore Anselme, Kent Bassett, Rémi Burah, Richa Chadha, Claire Chassagne, Ali Fazal, Sanjay Gulati, Gudny Hummelvoll, Marc Irmer, Alex C. Lo, Tanya Negi, Olivier Père, Dooj Ramchandani, Shuchi Talati Writer: Shuchi Talati Cast: Preeti Panigrahi, Kani Kusruti, Kesav Binoy Kiron, Kajol Chugh, Nandini Verma, Devika Shahani, Akash Pramanik, Aman Desai, Sumit Sharma, Jitin Gulati, Pratap Singh, Pradeep Kapoor, Neeraj Varma, Ved Amrita, Ahana Malla, Megha Aggarwal, Chiraag Behl, Jatin Sehgal, Samta Goyal, Mamta Chauhan, Tanu Gusain, Kapil Raj Editor: Amrita David Crew: Jih-E Peng, Sneha Khanwalkar, Pierre Oberkampf This Event is supported in part by a Mini Grant from Humanities Texas. Community Partners for the Film More Films

2022 Lalanna's Song Short Malayalam, Hindi, English mins 33 Virtual 2022 India Drama, Horror Tickets 4/28/23, 12:00 PM Free with IMFF Badge Director Megha Ramaswamy 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). Director: Megha Ramaswamy Producer: Writer: Megha Ramaswamy Cast: Rima Kallingal, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Nakshatra Indrajith Editor: Crew: This Event is supported in part by a Mini Grant from Humanities Texas. Community Partners for the Film More Films

2023 Remember Its Flight Short mins 8 Virtual 2023 India Drama A lonely cat in an apartment, watching a pair of doves, learns that there is more in life, called love. Logline: When the dove Teaches a cat how to love; Here is the poem Which the cat repeats to them, And that’s all: “Remember its flight For the bird is mortal”. Tickets 5/3/24, 11:00 AM Eventive Writer/Director/Producer Sasan Golfar Born in 1970 in Tehran, Iran, Sasan Golfar earned his BA degrees in Civil Engineering (Polytechnic Tehran) and Drama Acting (Azad University, Tehran) and pursued Cultural Studies courses for his MA (Allameh Tabatabaei, Tehran). He also studied filmmaking in Youth Cinema Society of Iran and served as actor, director assistant, and editor in a number of 35mm, 16mm, and video short films produced by the Youth Cinema Society. He won a stage acting award in Fajr Student Theatre Festival in 2004 and took on acting roles in Iranian TV series in 2005. As a writer and translator, he has published 14 works, including novels, short stories, and plays with 8 further books to be published in 2023 and 2024. He is a journalist and was the editor of International Cinema in a number of major Iranian newspapers such as Shargh, E'temad and Kargozaran and Tajrobe monthly magazine. He's a film critic and a member of critics Center (Kanoon Montagedan) of Iranian Khane-ye Cinema. As a director, producer, writer, cinematographer, and editor, he made "The Dream of Being Free", "Andante Innicentemente", "Remember Its Flight", "Sisyphus Childhood", "Call of the Wild". In ُthe spring-summer seasons of 2023 he won 'Best Short Film' in the Pageant Film Festival, India for "The Dream of Being Free", 'Best Narrative Short' in Opi Soulplace Festival, Italy and second place in London Music Video Festival for "Remember Its Flight". Director: Sasan Golfar Producer: Sasan Golfar Writer: Sasan Golfar Cast: Editor: Crew: This Event is supported in part by a Mini Grant from Humanities Texas. Community Partners for the Film More Films

The life of a young glassblower in training and his relationships over the years, as his land goes through war and strife. April 12, 2025 at 12:45:00 PM AFS Cinema Texas Premiere The Glassworker Pakistan, Spain, USA | Narrative Feature 2024 | 98 mins | English, Urdu Recorded Q&A with writer-director Usman Riaz Preceded by the short films Da'Lit Kids and Ouroboros . TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL International South Asian Film Festival of Canada Annecy Intl. Animation Film Festival Hong Kong Kids International Film Festival A young, gifted Vincent and his father Tomas run the finest glass workshop in the country and find their lives upended by an approaching war in which they want no part. The arrival in their town of an army colonel and his young aspiring violinist daughter, Alliz, shakes their reality and tests the relationship between father and son. As the love develops between Vincent and Alliz, they will need to gather up their courage to confront their fathers. Restoration Process About the Artist Usman Riaz is the Co-Founder of Mano Animation Studios, Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animation studio. A multifaceted talent, Usman has made significant strides in various creative fields. A recipient of a full scholarship at Berklee College of Music, Usman’s musical journey is marked by his albums ‘Flashes & Sparks’ and ‘Circus in the Sky,’ both released with EMI Pakistan. His prowess extends to filmmaking, having written, directed, and scored notable short films like ‘RUCKUS’ and ‘The Waves,’ with the latter being an Official Selection at the 2013 New York City Independent Film Festival. His ambitious project, ‘The Glassworker,’ showcases his storytelling and animation skills, promising to be a significant addition to his portfolio. Under Usman’s leadership, Mano Animation Studios has become a beacon of cultural storytelling and artistic excellence. The release not only marks a significant moment in Pakistani cinema but also elevates traditional animation on the global stage, showcasing its enduring charm over transient CGI trends. Usman Riaz’s artistic contributions continue to inspire a new generation of creators and storytellers worldwide. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Usman Riaz Writer: Moya O’Shea Usman Riaz Producer(s): Film Editor: Featured Cast: Art Malik Sacha Dhawan Anjli Mohindra Tony Jayawardena Teresa Gallagher Mina Anwar Sham Ali Maya Saroya Nila Aalia 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 explores the tradition of arranged marriage in rural India, where a girl's marriage overshadows the very sustenance of life. Narrated from the perspective of a young girl, Savita, it highlights the patriarchy rooted in society. April 20, 2024 at 6:15:00 PM AFS Cinema Texas Premiere Sthal (A Match) India | Narrative Feature 2023 | 104 mins | Marathi In-Person Q&A with Filmmaker Jayant Somalkar and Producer Shefali Bhushan Screens with Next, Please TICKETS DONATE TO NEPAL Toronto International Film Festival 2023 (NETPAC Award) 22nd Pune International Film Festival 2024 (Best Marathi Film, Best Screenplay) Sthal explores the tradition of arranged marriage in rural India, where a girl's marriage overshadows the very sustenance of life. Narrated from the perspective of a young girl, Savita, it highlights the patriarchy rooted in society. Restoration Process About the Artist Born in a village in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, Jayant Digambar Somalkar is an engineering graduate, but his creative bent of mind made him veer towards filmmaking. His debut short film, ‘Iyatta - Class,' showed at many film festivals and won many awards. He has co- written and co-directed the critically acclaimed Amazon Prime Video Original Series 'Guilty Minds’. ‘Sthal - A Match’ marks the director's debut feature, showcasing his talent for storytelling and commitment to presenting social issues in an authentic and compassionate manner. Trailer For English subtitles, make sure to turn on the YouTube closed captions. Credits Crew: Director: Jayant Digambar Somalkar Writer: Jayant Digambar Somalkar Producer(s): Shefali Bhushan, Karan Grover, Riga Malhotra, Jayant Somalkar Film Editor: Abhijit Deshpande Featured Cast: Nandini Chikte, Taranath Khiratakar, Sangita Sonekar, Suyog Dhawas, Sandip Somalkar, Sandip Parkhi, Swati Ulmale, Gauri Badki, Mansi Pawar 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.