The Indie Meme Film Festival will return April 21 - 25th, 2027, bringing the best of independent South Asian cinema to Austin with in-person screenings, Q&As, mixers, and filmmaker events. INDIE MEME FILM FESTIVAL 2027 Our Flagship Program April 21 - 25, 2027 | AFS Cinema | Austin, Texas Submissions Are Now Open! Since 2013, the Indie Meme Film Festival has been championing bold, authentic storytelling from South Asia and the South Asian diaspora, connecting filmmakers with engaged and passionate audiences in Austin, Texas. SUBMIT FILM Submission Timeline Early Bird Deadline October 31, 2026 Late Deadline January 31, 2027 Festival Begins! April 21, 2027 Submissions Open October 1, 2026 Regular Deadline December 31, 2027 Notifcation Date February 28, 2026 Indie Meme Film Festival 2026 Check out this past year's festival that brought 27 films from 16 countries to Austin! IMFF 2026 FILMS IMFF 2026 AWARDS

Learn about our jury for the 11th Annual Indie Meme Film Festival! IMFF will be bringing 30+ acclaimed South Asian films to audiences in Austin, TX in April 22-26, 2026. IMFF 2026 JURY The 11th Indie Meme Film Festival comes to Austin from April 22 - 26, 2026 and is held at the Austin Film Society Cinemas. Each year, we assemble a prestigious group of filmmakers, industry experts, veteran film festival programmers and other film aficionados. These esteemed jurors dedicate their expertise to selecting the films deserving of recognition in various categories. The winners from each category are revealed during the Closing Night Party. These announcements are then accompanied by special citations presented by the jury. Narrative Jury Documentary Jury Shorts Jury Narrative Feature Jury Lindsey Ashley For 20+ years, Lindsey has worked on behalf of the Texas film and production community. As the SXSW Film & TV Industry Relations Manager, she works with agents, distributors, studios, networks and production companies to help them navigate their SXSW Film & TV submissions, programming and festival experience. Previously, she worked at the Texas Film Commission as a Location Scout, Production Consultant and ultimately Deputy Director. Lindsey's background is in Arts Administration, helping to match film, television and commercial projects of all shapes and sizes with filming destinations and available resources. She's a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Radio, Television and Film. Yen Tan Yen Tan is a Malaysian-born writer, director, and graphic designer. He premiered the critically-acclaimed "Pit Stop" at Sundance 2013. It was nominated for a John Cassavetes Awards at the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards. His NYT Critic's Pick feature, "1985," premiered at SXSW 2018 and was inspired by his Short of the Week of the same title. His latest feature "All That We Love," premiered at Tribeca 2024 and will be released by Vertical this Fall. Yen has been a fellow of Austin Film Society’s Artist Intensive, IFP’s Film Week, and Film Independent’s Fast Track. He was an Out Magazine's OUT100 of 2018. Yen is based in Austin, where he also works as an award-winning key art designer for independent films and documentaries. Bijan Tehrani Bijan (Hassan) Tehrani is a film historian, writer, and critic whose career began 46 years ago with the publication of his first article in a weekly film magazine in Iran. He is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Cinema Without Borders, an online publication dedicated to promotingn international cinema in the United States and around the world, now in its 19th year. For over four decades, Bijan has served as a columnist and film critic for numerous Iranian newspapers and magazines. In January 2025, he co-founded Cinema B.M. (cinemabm.com), a Farsi-language film publication based in Iran, in collaboration with Abbas Yari, a pioneering figure in Iranian film journalism. Bijan is also the Director of the International Animation Day Festival, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in May 2025. Through the Cinema Without Borders Foundation, he presents the Bridging the Borders Award at ten international film festivals, including the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival. A recipient of several awards recognizing his contributions to global cinema, Bijan is currently working on a book exploring the thematic parallels between the films of Asghar Farhadi and Rodrigo García. He is a member of the Iranian Film Writers & Critics Society, as well as ASIFA and FIPRESCI. Documentary Jury Sachin Dheeraj Sachin Dheeraj is a Producers Guild of America fellow and a Directors Guild of America Student Award-winning filmmaker whose work has been screened at prestigious film festivals such as Hot Docs, Raindance, EnergaCAMERIMAGE, and Kraków. His short documentary film, TESTIMONY OF ANA , won the National Film Award (Swarna Kamal/Golden Lotus) for the Best Non-Feature Film issued by the Government of India and was qualified for the 95th Academy Awards in the Best Documentary Short category. The film also secured distribution on reputable platforms, including Vimeo Staff Picks, MUBI, SIMA Academy, and Kinoscope. Dheeraj won the competitive Panavision New Filmmaker Program Equipment Grant and the UT Graduate Continuing Fellowship (an award given to support the final year of an outstanding graduate student) to implement his short narrative project, MEN IN BLUE, which was shortlisted for the 2023 Yugo BAFTA Student Awards. The film also won the Grand Jury Prize at the 21st Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) and the Special Jury Prize at the 22nd International Student Film and Video Festival (ISFVF) organized by the Beijing Film Academy. Dheeraj is developing a feature-length film, Mouna Tharangam (A Silent Wave), which was awarded the 'New Texas Voices Award' from the Austin Film Society as part of their Feature Film Grant 2023. The project was workshopped in the 2023 AFS Artist Intensive. It was officially selected for the 2025 Tasveer Producers Lab, 2025 IFFLA Connect, 17th edition of the NFDC Film Bazaar's Co-Production Market, a finalist for the 2024 IFFLA Industry Day: Launchpad Competition, and was among the top ten shortlisted finalists for the AT&T Presents: Untold Stories by Tribeca Film Festival 2024. The project also got the 2025 PGA Create Fellowship, won the 2024 SFFILM Rainin Grant, and got into the inaugural DESI LIST curated by THE BLACK LIST. His other feature project in development, Mano Prapancham (The World Within), was officially selected for the 2024 Produire Au Sud (PAS) Workshop in Nantes, France, and won the 2024 Austin Film Society Feature Film Grant. It also won the 2024 Screenwriters Association of India (SWA) Script Lab and Pitch Fest by becoming one of the top six scripts from about 1300+ submissions after multiple rounds of evaluation. Stephen Jannise Stephen Jannise is the Senior Director of Film Programming for the Paramount & State Theatres in Austin, TX. He curates the annual Summer Classic Film Series and Panic at the Paramount horror series along with other screenings throughout the year. Prior to taking this role in 2013, he was Director of Film Programming at Austin Film Festival. Shorts Jury Jim Kolmar Jim is an independent film curator, writer, and consultant with over twenty years of festival experience, notably with South by Southwest Film & TV Festival. His curatorial work includes Curaçao International Film Festival, Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival, KINO! Germany Now (Goethe Institute/German Film Office), and PANORAMICA for PLAY Acción Cultural in Spain. Jim's consulting and jury work include Adelaide Film Festival, Cannes Docs, EFM, Locarno Industry Academy, and Sarajevo Film Festival. Asha Magarati Asha Magrati is an acclaimed actress, screenwriter, and producer whose work has premiered at major international film festivals, including Venice, Berlin, Toronto, and Locarno. Her recent work includes Pooja, Sir (2024), which she co-wrote, produced, and stars in as the lead, Inspector Pooja Thapa. The film premiered at the 2024 Venice Film Festival to critical acclaim, with Screen Daily describing her as “a striking presence” and Film Fest Report calling her performance “flawless.” Nominated for the Queer Lion Award, Pooja, Sir has also screened at major festivals including Busan, Göteborg, Tallinn Black Nights, Thessaloniki, and Mumbai, and was Indie Meme 2025 ’s centerpiece presentation. The film also earned Magrati a Best Actress award at FilmOut San Diego. Magrati played Durga in White Sun (2016), which won the Interfilm Award at the Venice Film Festival. Variety noted that she “shines as the devoted and extremely pragmatic single mother.” Her performance in Four Nights (2022) further strengthened her international profile, with the film earning a nomination for the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. Her screen credits also include Highway (2012) and Kagbeni (2008), among many others. An alumna of Berlinale Talents and the School of Playback Theater, Magrati has an extensive background in theater. She is also the co-founder of Aadi Films, the acclaimed production company behind films such as Pooja, Sir, White Sun, and Highway. In addition to her creative work, she has served on juries at multiple international film festivals, including as Jury Chair at the 2025 Fribourg International Film Festival. Mindy Raymond Mindy Raymond is a Texas-based producer, consultant, and passionate advocate for the state’s film and media industry. She co-founded The Shine Company (ShineCo.), where she works with communities to grow creative economies through film production, infrastructure, and tourism. Mindy is also the co-owner of Rolling Reels, a production company behind multiple feature films, including Texas Cult House and A Christmas in New Hope. A former Chair of Women in Film & Television Austin (WIFT Austin) Advisory Board, Mindy has long been dedicated to supporting and elevating voices across the industry. With a career spanning production, policy, and community-building, she brings a unique perspective to every project she touches. She is proud to support emerging filmmakers as a screener for Indie Meme Film Festival and remains deeply committed to championing Texas as a thriving hub for film and media. AWARDS FILMS 2025 AWARD WINNERS Narrative Documentary Shorts

Plan your visit to Austin for the 11th Annual Indie Meme Film Festival, taking place April 22-26, 2026 at the Austin Film Society Cinema. BOOK YOUR STAY IMFF 2026 The 11th Indie Meme Film Festival comes to Austin in-person from April 22 - 26, 2026 and is held at the Austin Film Society Cinema . We have partnered with Lone Star Court to offer discounted rates exclusively for IMFF 2026 attendees. Lone Star Court is just 15 minutes from the festival venue, AFS Cinema. We encourage you to book your room early to guarantee availability and make the most of this fantastic offer. Rates are subject to availability. BOOK HERE ATTEND FILMS SCHEDULE

View the film program for the 11th Annual Indie Meme Film Festival! Bringing the best of independent South Asian cinema to Austin April 22-26, 2026. IMFF 2026 FILMS The 11th Indie Meme Film Festival comes to Austin from April 22 - 26, 2026 and is held at the Austin Film Society Cinema . Narrative Features Narrative Features Divine Comedy Iran, Turkey, Italy, France, Germany | 2025 | Persian 96 mins | Ali Asgari A filmmaker and his producer launch an underground mission to screen their banned film in Iran, in this comedy about the absurdity of repression. Learn More Venice Film Festival 2025 - Orizzonti Virtual Q&A with writer Alireza Khatami Shape of Momo Texas Premiere India | 2025 | Nepali 114 mins | Tribeny Rai Bishnu and her family of women navigate patriarchal norms, reflecting on the complexities of identity and freedom within a traditional community. Learn More Busan International Film Festival (Vision Section) - Songwon Vision Award and Taipei Film Commission Award Kolkata International Film Festival - Best Film Singapore International Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Jury & Audience Choice Award - Indie Meme Film Festival 2026 Hybrid Q&A with writer-director Tribeny Rai and writer-editor Kislay Fucktoys USA | 2025 | English 106 mins | Annapurna Sriram 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. Learn More SXSW Film Festival - Special Jury Award NewFest: New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival - Grand Jury Prize Nashville Film Festival - Grand Jury Prize Live Q&A with writer-director-actor Annapurna Sriram and producer Timothy Petryni Victoria Texas Premiere India | 2024 | Malayalam 85 mins | Sivaranjini Victoria, a young beautician treads an overwhelming day, while an unruly offering-rooster serves as an unexpected spiritual witness. Learn More FIPRESCI Award for the Best Debut Director -29th International Film Festival of Kerala IFFK 2024 Excellence Award-Discovery Competition- 27th Seoul Women’s Film Festival, South Korea 2025 Best Film- NETPAC Asian Select- Kolkata International Film Festival 2025 Jury Special Mention for Acting - Indie Meme Film Festival 2026 Virtual Q&A with writer-director-editor Sivaranjini and lead actor Meenakshi Jayan Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust Texas Premiere India, France, Germany | 2024 | English 103 mins | Ishan Shukla In a dystopian world where people are forced to wear paper bags over their heads, a newly appointed council member sparks an accidental revolution. Learn More International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) 2024 – World Premiere, Bright Future ETPAC Award for Best Asian Film Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFFF) 2024 – Belgian premiere Cinedays Festival of European Film 2024 – North Macedonian premiere Recorded Q&A with writer-director Ishan Shukla Vimukt (In Search of the Sky) Texas Premiere India | 2024 | Hindi 87 mins | Jitank Singh Gurjar 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. Learn More Toronto International Film Festival - Netpac jury award International Film Festival of India Virtual Q&A with writer-director Jitank Gurjar and lead actor Nikhil Yadav Documentary Features Documentary Features An Unquiet Mind Texas Premiere USA | 2025 | English 76 mins | Rachel Immaraj A raw look at the hidden world of 'Harm OCD,' following two individuals as they fight to break the silence and shame surrounding their most intrusive thoughts. Learn More New York Women in Film and Television and ReelAbilities Film Festival: Excellence in Directing Award 2025 DC South Asian Film Festival: Best Documentary 2025 Tasveer Film Festival 2025 Live Q&A with producer Kovid Gupta and distribution producer Sarah Kuck The Cycle of Love Texas Premiere United Kingdom, Sweden | 2025 | English, Hindi 98 mins | Orlando Von Einsiedel A love story like no other, THE CYCLE OF LOVE is an inspiring true-life adventure about the search for self-belief and risking everything for what your heart tells you. Learn More Telluride Film Festival, Hamptons Film Festival - Winner Social Impact Award Middleburg Film Festival - Winner Audience Award for Best Documentary Jackson Hole Film Festival Best Documentary Audience Choice - Indie Meme Film Festival 2026 Live Q&A with protagonists Lotta Mahanandia Von Schedvin and P.K. Mahanandia, & producers Karl Von Schedvin and Emelie Mahanandia Von Schedvin. Give It A Shot Texas Premiere India | 2026 | English, Hindi, Bengali 93 mins | Vaishali Sinha A scientist’s decades-long quest for a reversible male contraceptive sparks a modern revolution in this look at the future of reproductive equality. Learn More Big Sky Documentary Film Festival - 2026 Jury Award for Best Documentary - Indie Meme Film Festival 2026 Live Q&A with director-producer Vaishali Sinha Listy z Wilczej (Letters From Wolf Street) Texas Premiere Poland, Germany | 2025 | Polish, English, Chinese, Arabic, Romani 97 mins | Arjun Talwar An Indian filmmaker in Warsaw turns his camera on the residents, revealing a portrait of community and life at the crossroads of culture. Learn More Jury Special Mention for Best Documentary - Indie Meme Film Festival 2026 Virtual Q&A with writer-director Arjun Talwar Shorts Program Short Films A door to my memory Texas Premiere Pakistan | 2025 | Punjabi 15 mins | Sheryar Ali In a dystopian world where memories are stored on external drives, a 65 year old man tries desperately to hold on to memories he no longer has space for. Learn More Tasveer Film Festival Peshawar International Film Festival - Finalist Best Short Film Bollywood International Film Festival - Nominee Blessings (Maaybaapache Aashirwaad) Texas Premiere India | 2025 | Marathi 20 mins | Apurva Bardapurkar Overprotective parents Sangeeta & Suryakant will go to any lengths to protect their son's childhood secret from his girlfriend. Learn More Tasveer Film Festival IFFSA Toronto - Winner Critics' Choice Awards 2026 Bengaluru International Short Film Festival Best Short Audience Choice Runner Up - Indie Meme Film Festival 2026 Recorded Q&A with writer-director Apurva Bardapurkar Family Man Texas Premiere Nepal, Australia | 2024 | Tamang 18 mins | Kalani Gacon A man finds refuge in the house of a family haunted by their father's disappearance and slowly reawakens lost memories. Learn More Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival 2025 Kathmandu international mountain film festival - audience choice award Best Short Jury Award - Indie Meme Film Festival 2026 Recorded Q&A with writer-director-producer Kalani Gacon Kanippu (The Prediction) North America Premiere India | 2026 | Tamil 23 mins | Rishi Chandna A boatman and a meteorologist share their knowledge of the seas and weather, but find themselves helpless in the face of unpredictable climate. Learn More Jojga-NETPAC Asian Film Festival P For Paparazzi Texas Premiere India | 2024 | Hindi, Maithili 27 mins | Divya Kharnare A paparazzi from Nepal, faces off against fellow photographers while confronting his brother's deteriorating health. Learn More Jury Award for Best Editing (Short Documentary) - 16th IDSFFK 2024 Dharamshala International Film Festival 2024 International Film Festival of India 2024, Goa Recorded Q&A with writer-director Divya Kharnare Texas Jaanu World Premiere USA | 2026 | English 16 mins | Aliza Khan A newly-wed cinephile from India befriends a ragtag trio of experimental filmmakers in Austin, complicating her relationship. Learn More South Asian Film Festival of Montreal NewFilmmakers Los Angeles Live Q&A with writer-director-producer Aliza Khan and producer Mase Kerwick AASMANI India | 2026 | Hindi, English 33 mins | Sayani Gupta An elderly woman struggles with the choice of selling her beloved vintage car, Aasmani. Learn More Best Short Script at the Independent Short Awards LA. Honourable Mentions at Tokyo Film & Screenplay Awards Best Short Audience Choice Award - Indie Meme Film Festival 2026 Live Q&A with writer-director-producer Sayani Gupta moderated by Rubi Sanchez Burnt Orange Texas Premiere USA | 2024 | English 11 mins | Sharmila Ray A woman is haunted by debt collectors, and one wants to harvest something more. Is the figure in her head, or does she owe a cosmic debt? Learn More Sidewalk Festival, Birmingham, AL - 2025 Micheaux Festival, Los Angeles, CA - 2025 Live Q&A with writer-director-producer Sharmila Ray Hills Don't Dance Alone Texas Premiere India | 2025 | Hindi, Pahari 24 mins | Shubham Negi In a Himalayan school, the lives of a fifteen-year-old boy and a widowed vice principal quietly intertwine after he’s bullied for cross-dressing in a folk dance. Learn More Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival Mosiac International South Asian Film Festival - Best International Short TOTO Awards 2026 - Best Short film Live Q&A with lead actor Sangeeta Agrawal Little Fishies India | 2025 | English, Hindi, Punjabi 20 mins | Mallika Juneja Raya confronts the sudden loss of her own childhood and explores the complexities of grief and duty. Learn More Showtime Texas Premiere USA | 2025 | English 14 mins | Vivek Menon On the day of her first open mic performance, Maya struggles to balance her day job, her dreams, and an ask from her mom. Learn More Chicago South Asian Film Festival Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Festival Live Q&A with writer-director Vivek Menon and producer Aman Bains Waagh (The Leopard) United States Premiere India | 2025 | Marathi, English 20 mins | Mukti Krishan A leopard wanders into a housing complex on Mumbai’s forest edge, awakening paranoia in 8 year-old Apu. Learn More FrightFest, London 2025 Beijing International Film Festival 2025 Ahmedabad Children and Youth Film Festival 2025 Ali Texas Premiere Bangladesh, Philippines | 2025 | Bengali 15 mins | Adnan Al Rajeev 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. Learn More 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 Deva Aaj Pan Vhay North America Premiere India | 2024 | Marathi 15 mins | Amol Jadhav A curious Deva journeys through everyday challenges to reach school, discovering kindness, resilience, and the power of education. Learn More Taiwan International Children's Film Festival-2026 Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth - winner Young Jury and Best film Jharkhand National Film Festival (International) - winner Best Director and Best Film Best Short Audience Choice Runner Up - Indie Meme Film Festival 2026 Jasmine That Blooms in Autumn Texas Premiere India | 2025 | Bengali, Hindi 15 mins | Chandradeep Das Love blossoms secretly between two elderly women at a senior care home while the spectre of patriarchy looms large overhead. Learn More 39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival 2025 39th Fribourg International Film Festival 2025 – Nominated for the Best International Short Film 16th KASHISH Pride Film Festival 2025 – Winner - Grand Prize for Best Indian Narrative Short Film Jury Special Mention for Best Short - Indie Meme Film Festival 2026 New Moon Rain Austin Premiere USA, Nepal | 2025 | Nepali, English 17 mins | Santosh Dahal After a moment of discipline toward his daughter, accusations rise, careers fall, and the home a father built turns away. Learn More Best student film, Dallas Movie Fest, 2025 China International New Media Short Film Festival (CSFF) Semi Finalist, Tianjin International Academic Film Festival, USA/China, 2025 Live Q&A with writer-director Santosh Dahal Squat N Stool Texas Premiere Canada | 2025 | English 11 mins | Ram Rajagopalan When Ria visits her boyfriend’s parents for the first time, she’s determined to make a great impression—but there’s one problem. She’s left behind her squat stool. Learn More Chicago South Asian Film Festival, Sep 2025 MISAFF Mississauga IFFSA Toronto JIFF New Delhi AWARDS JURY SCHEDULE Shorts Program Narrative Features Documentary Features

Volunteer for the 2026 Indie Meme Film Festival (IMFF), April 22-26, in Austin, Texas! Volunteer for IMFF 2026 Become a part of our 11th annual film festival, meet the pioneers of independent South Asian cinema, and learn more about the Indie Meme community by volunteering for our 2026 festival! Sign up for an available time slot through the link below. For every four hours spent volunteering, you receive two tickets to any film playing at the festival (except during your volunteer slot). Contact volunteer@indiememe.org for more information on volunteering. SIGN UP TO BE A VOLUNTEER

View the schedule of in-person screenings, Q&As, mixers, and filmmaker events for the 2026 Indie Meme Film Festival! IMFF 2026 will take place April 22 - 26th, 2026 in Austin. IMFF 2026 SCHEDULE The 11th Indie Meme Film Festival comes to Austin from April 22 - 26, 2026 and is held at the Austin Film Society Cinema . Join us for our closing party as the Jury announces the winners and gives the awards as well as the audience choice winners announced. See if your favorites win!! Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Wednesday April 22 VIVO Member Mixer 5:15 PM - 6:00 PM Grab some tacos and margs at our Member Mixer event at Vivo tex Mex right before our special Member Screening! Members and platinum badge holders only ! AFS Cinema Vimukt (In Search of the Sky) 6:15 PM India | Hindi | 87 mins 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. Preceeded by the short film Hills Don't Dance Alone Virtual Q&A with writer-director Jitank Gurjar and lead actor Nikhil Yadav Tickets Thursday April 23 AFS Cinema 6:00 PM USA, Nepal | English, Nepali | 109 mins Three independent films made by Texas filmmakers: documentary feature An Unquiet Mind and short films Texas Jaanu and New Moon Rain. A carefully curated selection of films that feature: (1) Insights into the less visible forms of OCD, (2) An immigrant navigating Austin through filmmaking, and (3) Consequences of parental discipline. Tickets Live Q&A with Kovid Gupta & Sarah Kuck (An Unquiet Mind), Aliza Khan & Mase Kerwick (Texas Jaanu), and Santosh Dahal (New Moon Rain) Texas Showcase Friday A pril 24 Austin Studios (National Guard Building) 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM Industry Mixer A panel with visiting IMFF 2026 filmmakers, structured speed networking & film pitching opportunities, project development help & help finding mentors/collaborators. Tickets AFS Cinema 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM Red Carpet Attend our opening night red carpet with attending filmmakers, cast, and fellow members! Badge and ticket holders only ! Buy a Badge AFS Cinema Shape of Momo 5:30 PM India | Nepali | 114 mins Bishnu and her family of women navigate patriarchal norms, reflecting on the complexities of identity and freedom within a traditional community. Hybrid Q&A with writer-director Tribeny Rai and writer-editor Kislay Tickets KMFA Studios - 41 Navasota St Opening Night Celebration 8:30 PM - 11:00 PM Opening Night attendees will get to see a special performance of Romani music by Oliver Rajamani , accompanied by an Indian folk and gypsy dancer. Cocktails, dinner and a DJ Set by DJ Anupi cap off the night Platinum Badge holders only ! Buy a Badge Saturday A pril 25 AFS Cinema 10:30 AM Saturday Shorts Block India, Bangladesh, Philippines, Nepal, Australia | Hindi, Maithili, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Tamang | 103 mins Five independent short films: P For Paparazzi , Ali , Blessings (Maaybaapache Aashirwaad) , Kanippu (The Prediction) , and Family Man . A carefully curated selection of incredible shorts that feature (1) A moral dilemma of a established paparazzi, (2) A singing competition that unveils a hidden voice, (3) A parents' comedic murder plan to protect their son, (4) A grieving boatman and an earnest meteorologist facing an unpredictable climate, and (5) A family haunted by their father's disappearance. Recorded Q&A with Divya Kharnare (P for Paparazzi), Adnan Al Rajeev (Ali), Apurva Bardapurkar (Blessings), Rishi Chandna (Kanippu), and Kalani Gacon (Family Man). Tickets Listy z Wilczej (Letters From Wolf Street) AFS Cinema 1:00 PM Listy z Wilczej (Letters From Wolf Street) Poland, Germany | Polish, English, Chinese, Arabic, Romani | 97 mins An Indian filmmaker in Warsaw turns his camera on the residents, revealing a portrait of community and life at the crossroads of culture. Preceeded by the short film Showtime Virtual Q&A with writer-director Arjun Talwar The Cycle of Love AFS Cinema 3:30 PM The Cycle of Love United Kingdom, Sweden | English, Hindi | 98 mins A love story like no other, THE CYCLE OF LOVE is an inspiring true-life adventure about the search for self-belief and risking everything for what your heart tells you. Live Q&A with protagonists Lotta Mahanandia Von Schedvin and P.K. Mahanandia, & producers Karl Von Schedvin and Emelie Mahanandia Von Schedvin. Divine Comedy AFS Cinema 5:45 PM Divine Comedy Iran, Turkey, Italy, France, Germany | Persian | 96 mins A filmmaker and his producer launch an underground mission to screen their banned film in Iran, in this comedy about the absurdity of repression. Virtual Q&A with writer Alireza Khatami Fucktoys AFS Cinema 8:15 PM Fucktoys USA | English | 106 mins 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. Preceeded by the short films Squat N Stool and Burnt Orange Live Q&A with writer-director-actor Annapurna Sriram and producer Timothy Petryni Sunday A pril 26 Victoria AFS Cinema 10:30 AM VIEW ALL India | Malayalam | 85 mins Victoria, a young beautician treads an overwhelming day, while an unruly offering-rooster serves as an unexpected spiritual witness. Preceeded by the short film Jasmine That Blooms in Autumn Virtual Q&A with writer-director-editor Sivaranjini and lead actor Meenakshi Jayan AFS Cinema Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust AFS Cinema 1:00 PM VIEW ALL India, France, Germany | English | 103 mins In a dystopian world where people are forced to wear paper bags over their heads, a newly appointed council member sparks an accidental revolution. Preceeded by the short film A door to my memory Recorded Q&A with writer-director Ishan Shukla AFS Cinema AFS Cinema 3:45 PM Family Shorts Program India | Hindi, English, Marathi, Punjabi | 89 mins Four independent short films: AASMANI , Deva Aaj Pan Vhay , Little Fishies , and Waagh (The Leopard) . A gentle, thoughtful collection of stories told through children’s eyes—exploring love, loss, fear, and connection across generations. Bring the kids and experience these stories together. Featuring (1) A grandmother and granddaughter connect over the journey of a well-loved, vintage car, (2) A young boy and his grandfather dream up mischievous ways to protect him on his way to school from torrential rains, (3) A young girl grapples with the loss of her father and helps her conservative family break free from what is deemed as “acceptable” grieving, and (4) A leopard dies in a housing complex in Mumbai, awakening paranoia in young Apu. Can humanity and nature co-exist? Live Q&A with Sayani Gupta (AASMANI) moderated by Rubi Sanchez Give It A Shot AFS Cinema 6:00 PM India | English, Hindi, Bengali | 93 mins VIEW ALL A scientist’s decades-long quest for a reversible male contraceptive sparks a modern revolution in this look at the future of reproductive equality. Live Q&A with director-producer Vaishali Sinha AFS Cinema Mystery Location in the Domain 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM Closing Night Party Help us close out the eleventh Indie Meme Film Festival! Dinner & drinks will be followed by an Award Ceremony, first with our Jury Awards and followed by Audience Choice announcements. Actor and debut director Sayani Gupta will be in attendance. Platinum Badge holders only! FILMS AWARDS JURY Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

The Indie Meme Film Festival will return for it's 10th anniversary edition from April 9th-13th, 2025 —bringing the best of independent South Asian cinema to Austin with in-person screenings, Q&As, mixers, and filmmaker events. Can't attend the festival? Select films will screen virtually May 2-4 2025. FILMS VIRTUAL FESTIVAL AWARDS Indie Meme Film Festival 2025 Our Flagship Program April 9 - 13 | AFS Cinema | Austin, TX Step into a world of powerful storytelling and groundbreaking cinema at the 10th Indie Meme Film Festival. Witness the most daring and thought-provoking independent South Asian films as they come to life on the big screen. Feel the energy of in-person screenings, dive deep into captivating Q&As with filmmakers, and connect with creatives at buzzing mixers. This is more than just film festival—it's an experience you won’t want to miss! Become an Indie Meme member for benefits, including discounts on badges and tickets. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter for the latest information. Can't attend the festival? Select films will screen virtually May 2 - 4, 2025. FILMS VIRTUAL SCHEDULE JURY AWARDS MEMBERSHIP IMFF 2024

The 10th Annual Indie Meme Film Festival comes to Austin in-person from April 9-13, 2025 and is held at the Austin Film Society Cinema. IMFF 2025 FILMS The 10th Indie Meme Film Festival comes to Austin in-person from April 9 - 13, 2025 and is held at the Austin Film Society Cinema. The virtual festival, streaming May 2 - May 4 , 2025 will bring second screenings of many of our in-person favorites, as well as fresh virtual-exclusive feature and short programs. Narrative Features Narrative Features Boong Texas Premiere India | 2024 | Manipuri 93 mins | Lakshmipriya Devi The story centers on a young schoolboy named Boong, portrayed by Gugun Kipgen, who embarks on a journey to reunite his divided family amidst the backdrop of Manipur's socio-political unrest. Facing challenges such as racial tensions and border issues, Boong's resilience and determination drive him forward. The film delves into themes of childhood innocence, family bonds, and the impact of geopolitical divisions on personal lives. Read More Audience Choice Award for Best Narrative Feature - IMFF 2025, Austin, USA Virtual Q&A with writer-director Lakshmipriya Devi In Theater Only Little Jaffna United States Premiere France | 2024 | French, Tamil 100 mins | Lawrence Valin 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. Read More Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature - IMFF 2025, Austin, USA Recorded Q&A with writer-director Lawrence Valin In Theater Only Puratawn (The Ancient) Austin Premiere India | 2024 | Bengali 100 mins | Suman Ghosh Rittika returns to her ancestral house with her husband Rajeev to celebrate her mother’s 80th birthday. After reaching her house she finds that her mother is not the same as she had always believed her to be. Initially jolted with this realization, she slowly comes to terms with her condition and its irreversibility. Through her mother she comes to change her perspective on life and being. What seemed like an ostensibly routine and ritualistic event turns to a larger metaphysical enquiry into human existence and how the past dictates our current state. The film deftly braids in questions of failing memory, cherishing the past, a fear of obsolescence and reconciliation into a haunting, moving story that is at its heart about burying the ghosts of the past in order to make peace with what has happened so that one can move on. Read More Best Feature film- Washington DC South Asian Film Festival Best Actress (Sharmila Tagore)- Washington DC South Asian Film Festival Best Feature Film- Indian Film Festival at Houston Recorded Q&A with writer-director Suman Ghosh In Theater Only Kennedy Special Screening India | 2023 | Hindi 144 mins | Anurag Kashyap Kennedy is an insomniac ex-cop, long though to be dead... still operating for the corrupt system, while looking for redemption. Read More 1. Festival de Cannes - France 2. Sydney Film Festival - Australia 3. Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival - South Korea (Republic of Korea) Live Q&A with writer-director Anurag Kashyap In Theater Only Manthan (The Churning) India | 1976 | Hindi 134 mins | Shyam Benegal Manthan”, a fictionalized version of the beginnings of the remarkable dairy cooperative movement that transformed India from a milk-deficient nation to the world’s largest milk producer inspired by Verghese Kurien, the Father of the White Revolution, is also India’s first crowdfunded film produced by 500,000 dairy farmers who contributed Rs. 2/- each towards the production of the film. Read More Cannes Classics 2024 Virtual Q&A with actor Naseeruddin Shah In Theater Only Sad Letters of an Imaginary Woman North America Premiere India | 2023 | Hindi 79 mins | Nidhi Saxena 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. Read More Virtual Only, Virtual Kherwal United States Premiere India | 2023 | Santhali, Bengali, English 122 mins | Uttam Kamati Norwegian academic Samuel passed away in an Indian tribal village, leaving behind a final wish to be buried there. Bidu, a Santhali man, is determined to honour Samuel’s last request. Meanwhile, Bidu's young son struggles with the painful realisation that his cherished dream of visiting Norway, a promise made by Samuel, may never come true. However, hope flickers anew with the arrival of Samuel’s daughter, Lauren, in the village, rekindling the boy’s aspirations and bringing new possibilities to light. Read More 29th Kolkata International Film Festival 28th International Film Festival of Kerala 2023-Best Debut Director Indian Cinema Now 16th Jaipur International Film Festival -Awarded for Best Original Script, Best Released Film, Best Cinematography, Best Actor Lead Virtual Only, Virtual Pooja, Sir Special Screening Nepal, USA, Norway | 2024 | Nepali 108 mins | Deepak Rauniyar When two boys are kidnapped in a border town in Nepal, Detective Inspector Pooja is sent from Kathmandu to solve the case, forcing her to leave her wife and her ailing father behind. But when she arrives to investigate, the brewing political unrest and violent protests throw her off course, and she is forced to seek help from Mamata, a local Madhesi policewoman. By putting aside systemic racial and homophobic discrimination and pushing through everyday misogyny, the women solve the case—but at what personal cost? Inspired by real events which took place in Southern Nepal during the 2015 race protests. Read More Live Q&A with director Deepak Rauniyar and lead actress Asha Magrati In Theater Only The Glassworker Texas Premiere Pakistan, Spain, USA | 2024 | English, Urdu 98 mins | Usman Riaz 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. Read More International South Asian Film Festival of Canada Annecy Intl. Animation Film Festival Hong Kong Kids International Film Festival Recorded Q&A with writer-director Usman Riaz In Theater Only Documentary Features Documentary Features Agent of Happiness Bhutan, Hungary, USA, Czech Republic | 2024 | Dzongkha, Nepali, English 94 mins | Arun Bhattarai & Dorottya Zurbó How can you measure happiness? The country of Bhutan invented Gross National Happiness to do just that, and Amber is one of the agents who travels door to door to meet people and measure how happy they really are. He is still living with his elderly mother at the age of 40, but is nevertheless a hopeless romantic who dreams of finding love: a happiness agent who is in search of his own happiness. We embark with Amber on a cross-country road trip meeting citizens from all walks of life, reminding us of the fragility and beauty of our own happiness. No matter where we live. Read More Jury and Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary - IMFF 2025, Austin, USA Sundance Film Festival 2024 71st Sydney Film Festival 2024 MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 Recorded Q&A with Director Arun Bhattarai In Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual Land of Dreams Texas Premiere USA, India | 2025 | Punjabi, Hindi, English 40 mins | Ambarien Alqadar Filmed for nearly a decade, Land of Dreams is an intimate portrait of Virender Rana, a taxi driver from India, chasing his dream of telling his story in America. While he points the camera at his own life and films a Bollywood style movie, the film follows his journey of coming to America, finding joy as part of a larger Sikh community and that of taxi drivers and laying roots as an immigrant. As he joins the elite Uber Black fleet hoping for his dreams to come true, he faces challenges of being a brown immigrant on the streets of post 9/11 America. Land of Dreams is a letter of solidarity and hope to anyone who has searched for a home and a land for their dreams in a place where they were not born. Read More Virtual Only, Virtual And, Towards Happy Alleys United States Premiere India, Iran | 2023 | Persian, English 75 mins | Sreemoyee Singh 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. Read More 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 Live Q&A with director Sreemoyee Singh and lead actress Aida Mohammadkhani In Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual BACK THEN - The Story of Live Music in Bombay Texas Premiere India | 2024 | English 57 mins | Anindita Dutta Roy, Abhishek Chandran 'BACK THEN - The Story of Live Music in Bombay' is a documentary film that takes the viewer back 30 years in time to explore the sounds of the city's musical counterculture as it was. It puts you into the shoes of its mercurial artists, passionate folks behind the scenes, and misfits who went to gigs through the 90s, 2000s, and 2010s. The film puts a spotlight on what happened in the shadowy world of underground live music and answers questions like what it meant to watch an artist live in 1994, what it’s like today, and what kind of underground music was played in 2006. Over the span of 53 minutes, it cruises through real and rare DIY stories all the way from the 1990s, right up to 2023. Read More Yellowstone International Film Festival Best Documentary Film Winner Recorded Q&A with directors Anindita Dutta Roy and Abhishek Chandran In Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual Shorts Program Short Films A Lazy Noon United States Premiere Bangladesh | 2025 | Bangla 15 mins | Monon Muntaka Nira, a highly educated 38-year-old woman who comes from an upper-middle-class family. Her husband is a senior executive at a corporate company, and she is a homemaker. She married with the intention of enjoying a modest and peaceful life. She was going about her regular activities. But, as time passes, she becomes increasingly aware of the emotional abuse she is subjected to. She made the decision to stand up and protect her dignity and self-worth. Read More 23rd Dhaka International Film Festival - Best Short Film Fipresci Award In Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual Blue North America Premiere India | 2024 | Tamil 12 mins | Praveen Kumar Nagendran A young boy persuades a fisherman to take him out to sea. Once there, he reveals his true intentions, sparking the fisherman’s anger. The film leaves us wondering whether the boy ultimately succeeds in his plan. Read More Special prize from Arctic Open International Film Festival 2024, Russia In Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual Da'Lit Kids International Premiere India | 2024 | Malayalam 6 mins | Appu Soman A school boy being questioned by his teacher- his first bitter lesson in social discrimination. As he struggles to understand this silent injustice, he begins to see the world through new, questioning eyes. Read More In Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual Fragments of Us World Premiere USA | 2024 | Telugu, English 24 mins | Sushanth Nallapareddy Fragments of Us follows Drithi and Arjun, a south asian couple navigating the intricate challenges of love, marriage, and self-discovery. As cultural expectations and personal ambitions collide, they confront the fragile nature of their bond through a non-linear narrative that reveals defining moments from their past, present, and possible future. Each fragment of their journey invites reflection on whether there is ever a "right" time to address issues within a relationship, or if it ultimately comes down to resilience and choice. Read More In Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual Lost. Texas Premiere USA | 2024 | N/A 9 mins | Rohit Battepati 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. Read More Hyperreal Film Club Official Selection, Reale Film Festival - Best Super Short, Tamizhagam International Film Festival - Best Actor In Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual Pyaar Andaaz (Love Undoes) International Premiere India | 2024 | English, Hindi 6 mins | Laksh Banthia A man tries to keep himself together as he waits in a university canteen for his beloved from yesteryear. "Pyaar Andaaz" is a short experience attempting to capture the ephemeral nature of love and human connection in a single continuous take. Read More In Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual Taak North America Premiere India | 2024 | Hindi 40 mins | Udit Khurana When a security breach shakes the foundations of a Delhi nightclub, the management enforces a new policy: mandatory tracking smartwatches for all staff members. Senior among the staff is Shalini, a bouncer who is a single mother. They are told that the smartwatches are tools for safety and efficiency. However, the watches soon reveal a darker purpose—constant surveillance. As the smartwatches begin to intrude on personal lives, harvesting data and controlling movements, the nightclub faces opposition from Komal - a young recruit from Shalini’s village who is extremely resistant to wearing the smartwatch. Berated for her team’s incompetence, Shalini must ensure that her colleagues wear the smartwatch or face severe consequences. In a world where every move is tracked, Shalini and Komal’s fight becomes one of autonomy, dignity, and the right to be unseen. Read More Film Critics Guild's Critic's Choice Award for Best Actress MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, Dharamshala International Film Festival, FILMKUNSTFEST MV (Germany) Virtual Only, Virtual Waterman United States Premiere India | 2023 | Marathi, Kannada 24 mins | Vishwas K In a low-income neighborhood in Pune, 'Kitty', an eight-year-old boy, lives with his mother 'Saroja' amidst severe water shortages. During Kitty's summer vacation, Kitty fills his days playing with his imaginary friend while Saroja struggles to manage household tasks and water collection alone, due to her husband's absence. Their neighbor Gullamma suggests Kitty should grow-up quickly to help his mother. Meantime Kitty becomes intrigued after encountering a stiltwalker and playing with Gullamma's son, Dasthgir. He convinces Dasthgir to get him a pair of stilts. Later, Kitty discovers that whenever he walks on stilts, all the taps around him start running with water. When he shares this news with other people, he gets laughed at. His own mother gives him a scolding. Angered, Kitty runs away but is found and brought back home by Dasthgir. Saroja reassures Kitty that they will use his ability to bring water to the neighborhood. Soon after, in the middle of the night, stilts emerge from Saroja's house, and wherever Kitty's shadow passes, taps and containers start running with water, flooding the lanes and roads. Kitty continues to walk as his stilts echoes through the neighborhood. Read More 16th IDSFFK - Best Film Award in Short Fiction Category 14th Bengaluru International Short Film Festival 2024 - 1st Runner Up in Kannada category Virtual Only, Virtual Aloo Poori Texas Premiere USA | 2025 | English, Hindi 13 mins | Aditi Sridhar Aloo Poori follows the story of a mother and daughter during their last day of living together in a small town in Western Pennsylvania. Sejal is on the cusp of leaving her home and mother behind, unsure if she’s scared to go, or scared to stay. Her mother Madhuri is avoiding a recent mental health diagnosis and her daughter's departure by throwing her heart into her cooking. The two have never had to function without each other, and on the eve of Sejal’s departure, they realize they might not know how to-- grappling with what forgiveness and farewell truly mean to them. Read More Chicago South Asian Film Festival Red Rose International Film Festival Planet Female Global StoryFest (Best Student Film) In Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual Chashma International Premiere India | 2024 | Hindi 20 mins | Nitin Baid An 11-year-old boy with poor vision must confront more than his physical limitations when a school conflict forces him to make a difficult decision. Set against the backdrop of 1992 amidst India's rising sociopolitical tensions, Supriyo's journey boldly explores the emotional and societal blind spots around him. Read More In Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual Dadresi (The Claimant) Texas Premiere Iran | 2024 | Persian 20 mins | Nadereh Sadatserki “Claimant" is about a father who discovers that his teenage daughter was assaulted and raped, so he decides to confront and punish the rapist, but since the culprit is a very proficient lawyer he uses laws in a way that he not only escapes from justice but also legally make the father the criminal. Read More Fajr International Film Festival, Iran - Winner Best Short Film Tehran International Short Film Festival, Iran - Winner Best Direction Accolade Global Film Competition, United States - Winner Best Woman Filmmaker Virtual Only, Virtual Hema Texas Premiere USA, India | 2024 | Hindi, English 16 mins | Ritvik Dhavale After immigrating to Los Angeles from India with her husband and son, Hema finds herself navigating the daunting task of settling into American life while grappling with a deep yearning for her homeland. The complexities of cultural adjustment weigh heavily on her, and she seeks comfort and familiarity in maintaining connections to her roots. However, her delicate balance is unexpectedly disrupted when she crosses paths with a young Marathi man. This encounter stirs a mix of emotions within her, from nostalgia to uncertainty, threatening to unravel the fragile stability she has managed to establish in a foreign land. As she confronts this unexpected challenge, Hema is forced to reevaluate her identity and aspirations, torn between the pull of her past and the realities of her present life in America. Read More San Francisco Frozen Film Festival (SFFFF) PROOF Film Festival - Gold Jury Award Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) - Audience Choice Award In Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual Nirmalya Texas Premiere USA | 2024 | Marathi, English 18 mins | Aniket Chandrakant Dhavale An Indian family in the USA is confronted with a difficult decision regarding the future of their newborn child. What choice will they make, and what factors will influence their decision? Read More In Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual Smoke Cheyyaku Bro (Don't Smoke Bro) Austin Premiere USA | 2024 | Telugu 13 mins | Prithvi Raj Karredula 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. Read More Audience Choice Award for Best Short - IMFF 2025, Austin, USA Oakcliff International Film Festival, Dallas Dallas International Film Festival Shorts, Dallas In Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual The First Film Texas Premiere India | 2023 | Hindi 19 mins | Piyush Thakur 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. Read More 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 Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual An Orphanage of Memories Austin Premiere India | 2024 | Kashmiri 21 mins | Rayit Hashmat Qazi In a small village of Kashmir, Farah, the caretaker of a small piece of land has lost her husband under tragic, unexplained circumstances. Feeling overwhelmed with grief, Farah clings onto her late husband's memories. Under threat of her home being uprooted by the prospect of a new buyer, Farah finds a new lease of life when she discovers the saplings her husband brought to their kitchen garden. Just as she is done planting them, she discovers small rat droppings around the garden. With this, Farah dives deep into a point of no return as she dedicates her life towards protecting the saplings at the cost of affecting her sanity. Read More Tasveer Film Festival Jakarta Film Week - Winner (Global Short Award) Izmit International Short Film Festival (Finalist) Virtual Only, Virtual Cowboys and Hindus World Premiere USA | 2025 | English 16 mins | Tejal Desai A depressed, affluent, middle aged Hindu woman, ASHA, accompanies her domineering husband to a Texas cattle ranch. While there, she befriends a cattle woman who takes the Hindu woman under her wing and teaches her all about cowboy culture. Asha soon finds purpose on the ranch and in her life. She discovers the meaning of true American grit. Read More In Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual Flowering Man North America Premiere India | 2023 | Hindi 24 mins | Soumyajit Ghosh Dastidar In The Flowering Man, a middle-aged man experiences an inexplicable transformation when a delicate flowering plant begins to sprout from his mouth. As the phenomenon takes hold, he struggles to understand its significance while navigating his relationship with his teenage daughter. What begins as a surreal affliction soon becomes a profound metaphor for growth, acceptance, and the silent emotions that often go unspoken between loved ones. Through striking visuals and an evocative narrative, the film explores themes of metamorphosis, human connection, and the quiet resilience found in embracing change. Read More "Paridrishya" International Festival of Short Films and Documentaries Karnataka Symbiosis Film Festival International Festival for Short Documentary & Fiction Films- Best Director Award in the Short Fiction category JIO MAMI year Round Programme, Goa Virtual Only, Virtual Lost in Concrete Woods World Premiere USA | 2025 | Telugu 24 mins | Pruthvi Teja Anumandla Ram, an ambitious man consumed by his routine, oblivious to the world around him. When he gets locked out of his home on a freezing night, he is forced to navigate an unfamiliar reality—one without comfort, technology, or control. As the long night unfolds, every passing hour presents new challenges—physical, emotional, and existential. Unexpected encounters and moments of isolation begin to shift his perspective, nudging him toward a realization that had always been waiting in the shadows. Read More In Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual Ouroboros International Premiere India | 2024 | N/A 6 mins | Anuj Choudhary The film is about the propagation of evil curses in the form of a beautiful ring that invokes greed. The story revolves around a simple man who stumbles upon the ring and steals it. Read More Birsa Munda international film awards- best horror short film 13th Mumbai shorts international film festival - best student animated film 17th jaipur international film festival - best upcoming film award In Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know India | 2023 | Kannada 15 mins | Chidananda S Naik The sun never rises again after an elderly woman steals the village's rooster, which throws the community into disarray. To bring the rooster back, a prophecy is invoked, sending the old lady's family into exile. Read More 1. First Prize - LA CINEF- the 77th Edition of Festival De Cannes, France 2. Best Film in Indian Category - 14th Bengaluru International Short Film Festival 2024 3. Best First-Time Filmmaker Award - 4th Greece International Film Festival In Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual Virundhu (The Feast) Texas Premiere India | 2024 | Tamil 25 mins | Rishi Chandna A fisherwoman takes on a powerful local politician by hosting a feast for him using an unforgettable secret dish that could save her dying lake. Read More Jury Award for Best Short - IMFF 2025, Austin, USA Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, February 2024, World Premiere - Special Jury Prize Winner, International Competition Sydney Film Festival, June 2024 In Theater & Virtual, In Theater, Virtual Retrospective Showcase In honor of Indie Meme Film Festival's 10th anniversary, we are bringing back audience favorites for our virtual festival May 2 - 4, 2025! Aunty Sudha Aunty Radha India | 2019 | Hindi 49 mins | Tanuja Chandra Three hours outside India's capital is a village called Lahra. This film follows two widowed sisters, aged 86 and 93, who have retired to this village, and whose days are spent with their adopted family of domestic help. Pulling along with their walkers (because of bad knees that turned inoperative a decade ago) the sisters do as they please, pay heed to no one and don’t bother with unsolicited advice. They don’t let their ailments unsettle them much and remain largely unfearful of death. With a rare acceptance of old age and all that it brings, they spend their time gossiping, watching T.V., soaking in the sun and bonding with the help of a hearty sharing of community life. With the filmmaker being their niece who visits their home for the first time, the film resolutely assumes the tone of this oddball group of people – a facile easy-going manner, that gazes lightly at the passing of days. And yet, from this light-heartedness, emerge lessons. Of courage and perseverance, of camaraderie and care-giving, of destiny and faith, and the most significant one: when we engage in conversations of death, we improve the quality of life. Read More Madrid International Film Festival – Spain JIO MAMI 21st Mumbai Film Festival New York Indian Film Festival – NY Virtual Only, Virtual In Flames Pakistan,Canada | 2023 | Urdu 98 mins | Zarrar Kahn Mariam lives with her younger brother and their mother, Fariha, in a tiny apartment in Karachi. When Mariam’s maternal grandfather passes, his brother tries to manipulate them into signing over their apartment to him, a common occurrence in Pakistan, where women’s property rights are fragile. Mariam’s mother, grieving and isolated, is easy to influence. Mariam, distraught by her mother’s foolishness, finds solace in a secret romance with a fellow student, Asad. When their relationship takes an unexpected turn, Mariam becomes consumed by nightmares. Meanwhile, her mother, caught between her coercive Uncle and a murky legal system, is oblivious to her daughter’s deteriorating mental state. Mariam’s nightmares begin to bleed into reality. Mother and daughter must come together if they hope to overcome the real and phantasmal forces that threaten to engulf them. Read More Golden Yusr at Red Sea FF, TIFF, Cannes Virtual Only, Virtual Pebbles India | 2021 | Tamil 75 mins | Vinothraj P S A hot-tempered alcoholic father drags his reticent son to a distant village to fetch back his wife whom he had chased away. But when the encounter turns ugly, the journey home through unforgiving Tamil Nadu barrens is fraught with the sweat and smudge of the deserted terrain where the land and human emotions lay brazenly palpable in the scorching heat. Read More Winner of the 'Tiger Award' at the 50th International Film Festival Rotterdam 2021, Netherlands, held in February 2021 Winner of the PREMIO SNCCI “Best Feature Film” adjudged by the National Syndicate of Italian Film Critics at ShorTS International Film Festival 2021, Italy held in July 2021 Winner of the 'Audience Award' at Burgas International Film Festival 2021, Bulgaria held in July 2021 Virtual Only, Virtual Turup India | 2017 | Hindi 72 mins | Ektara Collective In the neighbourhood, chess is a popular pass time with roadside games bringing together men from different strata. Their pawns include morality and religion, causing social and political tensions to erupt when a tournament gets underway. But the men are only the most visible players. Against this simmering backdrop, a domestic worker with a secret hobby, a young woman in love and a former journalist struggling with married life must make their moves with care. When caste, class, religion and gender come into play, there are boundaries to be negotiated, and the very rules of the game stand challenged. Read More Virtual Only, Virtual Barah x Barah (12x12) India | 2021 | Hindi 118 mins | Gaurav Madan 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! Read More IFFK, Kerala 2021 Shanghai International Film Festival 2021 IFF Stuttgart 2021 Virtual Only, Virtual Lunana: A Yak In The Classroom Bhutan | 2019 | Dzongkha 109 mins | Pawo Choyning Dorji A reluctant young teacher, Ugyen, finds himself assigned to the world’s most remote village school. Situated in Northern Bhutan, Lunana is an 8-day trek into the Himalayas - an alienating experience for the city-dwelling Ugyen, who plans to move to Australia to pursue music as soon as possible. He arrives to find a welcoming community amid the beautiful but forbidding surroundings - and an especially eager student body, whose access to teachers and materials from outside has been inconsistent. Filmed using cameras operating on solar-powered batteries, and starring primarily villagers from the real Lunana in child & adult roles, this charming drama transports us to a rarely seen part of the globe. Read More 2022 Academy Award Nominee for 'Best International Feature' Virtual Only, Virtual Sthal (A Match) India | 2023 | Marathi 104 mins | Jayant Somalkar In a village in the Vidarbha region of India, a determined young girl, Savita, yearns for education and a brighter future. However, as her farmer parents anxiously struggle to find a suitable match for her, societal expectations place immense pressure on her to prioritize marriage over personal aspirations. Being dark-complexioned and short in height, Savita is seen as an added ‘burden’ on her parents and ‘marrying her off’, as difficult as finding fair price for their crop. Facing countless rejections from potential suitors, she must navigate a world where the pursuit of marriage overshadows the very sustenance of life. Shot on real locations with real people from the village, all non-actors, Sthal (A Match) is the director's debut feature film that explores the tradition of arranged marriages in rural India while highlighting patriarchy, colorism and social evil deeply rooted in society. Read More Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival 2024 (Best Film, Best Actress) Third Eye Asian Film Festival 2024 (Best Film, Best Actress) Pune International Film Festival 2024 (Sant Tukaram Award - Best Marathi Film, Best Screenplay) Virtual Only, Virtual Eikhoigi Yum (Our Home) India | 2022 | Manipuri 86 mins | Romi Meitei 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. Read More 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 Virtual Only, Virtual Lyari Notes India,Pakistan | 2015 | Urdu 70 mins | Miriam Chandy Menacherry & Maheen Zia 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. Read More 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 Virtual Only, Virtual The Threshold India | 2015 | Hindi,English 87 mins | Pushan Kriplani The Threshold details one day in the life of a couple who have been married over two decades. On this day, the day after their newly married son, and the guests from his wedding party, have left, the wife informs her husband that she is leaving him. For good. Presented with this fait accompli, two people on the verge of an idyllic retirement are forced to confront the truth of their marriage, without the masks. Even as the couple tries to get to the heart of the matter, they find the big questions of their lives beyond their grasp. They are two people, isolated in a house in the hills, preparing for the harsh Himalayan winter, trying to find themselves one last time. This film was an opportunity to explore a corner of our world that never makes it onto screen. The people we don’t normally notice. The people who are always at the edges of the family photograph. Except we know these people. They are our aunts and uncles. They are our parents. They are our grandparents. We will become them. It was an opportunity to examine an existential crisis: The unraveling of the idea of the ideal Indian marriage all of us are familiar with. Read More Virtual Only, Virtual Shorts Program Narrative Features Documentary Features Retrospective Showcase

The Indie Meme Film Festival will return April 22 - 26th, 2026, bringing the best of independent South Asian cinema to Austin with in-person screenings, Q&As, mixers, and filmmaker events. Indie Meme Film Festival 2026 Our Flagship Program April 22 - 26, 2026 | AFS Cinema | Austin, Texas The 11th Indie Meme Film Festival is coming back April 2026, sharing the best of independent South Asian cinema in Austin with in-person screenings, Q&As, mixers, and filmmaker events. AWARDS FILM PROGRAM AWARDS FILMS SCHEDULE JURY SPONSORS COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Catch the best of independent cinema from South Asia and Iran at indiememe.org. IMFF (Indie Meme Film Festival) takes place every April in Austin, Texas. Submissions are Open for IMFF 2027! Bring Your Story to the Heart of Texas April 21 - 25, 2027 | Austin, TX Since 2013, the Indie Meme Film Festival has been championing bold, authentic storytelling from South Asia and the South Asian diaspora, connecting filmmakers with engaged and passionate audiences in Austin, Texas. SUBMIT YOUR FILM Honeyjoon December 6, 2026 | 2:30 PM CST | AFS Cinemas A surprisingly sexy, darkly funny, emotional rollercoaster. In this light-and-dark comedy, June and her Persian-British mother Lela travel to the romantic Azores islands for a grief anniversary, with contrasting ways of coping. A hot philosophical surfer takes them on a tour as we surf the waves of life, loss, flirting… an unforgettable ride. TICKETS MORE INFO Upcoming Events Honeyjoon Dec 06, 2026, 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM CST AFS Cinema, 6259 Middle Fiskville Rd, Austin, TX 78752, USA In this light-and-dark comedy, June and her Persian-British mother Lela travel to the romantic Azores islands for a grief anniversary, with contrasting ways of coping. More Info Latest from Indie Meme Follow Us on Socials! Programs Indie Meme Film Festival Indie Meme Lit Indie Meme Archival Project Indie Meme Master Classes Support Indie Meme Become a Member Volunteer With Our Family Sponsor Our Programs Become a Leadership Circle Member

Meet Team Meme - the people behind Indie Meme, Austin's premier South Asian cinema organization and independent film festival We Are INDIE MEME Executive Board Ananyaa Ravi President Alice (Ali) Mechaley-Saigal Secretary Board of Directors Board of Directors Meghana Shukla Marketing Chair Hitesh Vijay Oswal Ticketing Chair Kala Ranganathan Community Partnership Chair Kalpana Jayaraman Membership & Volunteering Chair Sharmila Mehta Fundraising & Tech Chair Uma Riddle Programming Chair Staff Radhika Malhotra Executive Director Ananya Goks Marketing Coordinator Davis Kurepa-Peers Webmaster & Videographer Nitya Rayapati Box Office Coordinator Staff Staff Advisors Advisors Elizabeth Avellán Advisor Gita Lal Advisor Chale Nafus Advisor Alka Bhanot Co-Founder & Advisor Vijay Mahajan Advisor Tripti Bhatnagar Co-Founder & Advisor Ahmed Moledina Advisor Festival Team Volunteer Team Volunteer Team Suja Jose Festival Programming Shivani Mittal Festival Operations Kamal Khan Festival Programming Ramdas Menon Festival Programming Indie Meme Ambassadors Gita Singh Indie Meme Ambassador Anushka Mehta Indie Meme Ambassador Join Our Team We are looking for committed, dedicated and energetic people to join our team! If you are interested in a position on our Volunteer Team, or simply want to get involved and want to volunteer, talk to us! We are especially looking for people that can help with fundraising, public relations, and social media. Become a Volunteer Executive Board Board of Directors Staff Advisors Festival Team Ambassadors

Indie Meme is about building communities around film. We do that by showcasing South Asian Indie Documentary & Fiction Films and their filmmakers. Our Story Indie Meme is more than just a film festival. Step into the vibrant world of South Asian independent cinema in Austin, Texas with Indie Meme . Established in 2013, Indie Meme LLC was born out of a passion for storytelling through film, and a desire to make compelling independent films from South Asia accessible to a wider audience in the United States. The inspiration struck founders Alka Bhanot and Tripti Bhatnagar when filmmaker Surabhi Sharma faced a lack of visibility for her film screening in Austin, revealing a void in the availability and awareness of meaningful South Asian cinema for enthusiasts like herself. What started as a simple idea, with individual screenings through the year, has blossomed into the Indie Meme Organization , a nonprofit with the mission to bring socially relevant cinema from South Asia to the United States, fostering conversation around issues that bridge continents. Indie Meme has grown since its inception, and in 2016, IMFF@Austin emerged as the festival's signature event, earning the prestigious "Best International Passport - 2016" accolade from The Austin Chronicle . The festival has since become the go-to destination for those seeking unique and powerful stories from South Asia and beyond. The carefully curated programming showcases slices of life from countries such as India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Iran, and more. Indie Meme is not just a cinematic experience. The organization provides a platform where the audience mingles with filmmakers for post-screening discussions and dialog. It's a community where film enthusiasts converge to engage in conversations that build understanding of cultures half a world away. Indie Meme The driving force behind the organization and the annual Film Festival is the Indie Meme Community, a dedicated group of volunteers and staff that support all aspects of the organization’s programming. Indie Meme is more than just a film festival — it's a testament to the power of storytelling and the community that thrives on the love for independent cinema. Immerse yourself in a world of diverse perspectives, compelling narratives, and the magic of independent filmmaking from South Asia at the Indie Meme Film Festival in Austin, Texas. Co-Founder Alka Bhanot Alka's aim is to celebrate the diversity within the South Asian community, often considered monolithic, and give a platform to emerging new talent from one of the most populous parts of the world. Having graduated with an Economics Major, she did her post graduation in Mass Communications, and then worked in the Indian Television Industry as a Producer for 10 years before moving to Austin in 2002. Alka has worked on various Indie films in Austin as well as a locally produced animated series which aired on PBS. Alka and her architect husband have 2 children and the most affectionate dog in the world! Co-Founder Tripti Bhatnagar Tripti has a diverse background in business and a deep passion for cinema. She has assisted award-winning films with research, interviews, and marketing. Tripti believes in the influential power of cinema and its ability to transcend borders to help create a more informed and engaged society. She lives in Dallas with her husband, two boys, and a puppy 'Sir Bear.' Testimonials Breakfast Ideas Read More