Program

CineSparks Contest Finale

Event celebrating the finalists of the CineSparks Ultrashort Film Contest and announcement of winners.

5:00 PM

Opening Night Gala

Red Carpet Event in the lobby with guests and filmmakers celebrating the opening of the Indic Film Utsav.

7:00 PM

OPENING NIGHT FILM

American Warrior

Dir. Gustavo Martin Benites · 95 min · English

Jai, an Indian-American with a past and former amateur MMA fighter working as a janitor, gets a second chance after stopping a robbery. Overnight hero, he’s drawn back into fighting,…

Saturday, November 8

Day 2 of 3

2:00 PM

Documentary Bundle

DOCUMENTARY BUNDLE

Devi – A Woven History

Dir. Manas Holkar

20 Min · Hindi

DOCUMENTARY BUNDLE

Theyyam – Dance of the Gods

Dir. Shriganesh Joglekar

30 Min · Malayalam

DOCUMENTARY BUNDLE

Voices of Change

Dir. Sandeep Rasal, Swapnil Sakhare

50 Min · Marathi

4:00 PM

87 Rupees Ink Pen

Dir. Ravi Nimbalkar · 95 min · Marathi

A young schoolboy’s heartfelt quest to buy an ink pen worth ₹87 in rural Maharashtra.

4:00 PM

EMERGING VOICES

Bhamakalapam

Dir. Likhitha Krishna · 20 min · Telugu

A girl honors a forgotten heroine through puppetry, discovering courage and friendship.

6:30 PM

SHOWCASE DOCUMENTARY

Castegate – The Untold Story

Dir. Vikram Mishra · 90 min · English

A documentary investigating allegations of caste discrimination in Silicon Valley.

8:30 PM

Ahana – The Light Within

Dir. Promita Bhowmik · 95 min · Bengali

A young author confronts infertility, patriarchy, and personal identity.

8:30 PM

EMERGING VOICES

Ek Se Anek (The Lady Bird)

Dir. Shivi Ghakher · 25 min · Hindi

Two siblings navigate grief and dreams after their father's death.

Sunday, November 9

Day 3 of 3

11:00 AM

Filmmaker Social

Panel discussion with established filmmakers. Topic: Telling Indian stories from the US to a global audience.

2:00 PM

Short Bundle 1

Aata tu Motha Jhalas

Dir. Kiran Dhamale

15 Min · Marathi

All Water is Holy Water

Dir. Yashiva Malligar

25 Min · Kannada

Betelgeuse

Dir. Sunder Konar

25 Min · Hindi

Irani Café

Dir. Shankar Kamble

10 Min · English

3:00 PM

Jaar

Dir. Phurba Tshering Lama · 115 min · Nepali

A story of love, loss, and generational ties in 19th century Nepal.

5:00 PM

Short Bundle 2

Basanti Tailors

Dir. Ajay Govind

20 Min · Hindi

Cowboys and Hindus

Dir. Tejal Desai

20 Min · English

Sunny Man

Dir. Sandeep Reddy Sama

7 Min · Telugu

The Taste of Dreams

Dir. Bijou Thaangjam

12 Min · Manipuri

6:30 PM

Rhythym of Dammam

Dir. Jayan Cherian · 95 min · Konkani

A boy struggles with trauma while tribal music rituals attempt to restore balance.

8:00 PM

CLOSING NIGHT FILM

6A Akash Ganga

Dir. Nirmal Chander · 80 min · Hindi, Bengali

A journey through the life of 'Surbahar' legend Annapurna Devi, by her disciple Nityanand Haldipur, the bansuri master. At the end the question that begs an answer- can a musician…

8:00 PM