The inaugural Cinevesture International Film Festival (CIFF) in India has announced the participation of 20 exciting projects in its market event. This selection includes 17 feature films and three series, showcasing work from celebrated creators known both internationally and within South Asia.
Among these projects is “To Hell With Love,” a unique Hindi and English romance from Bangladeshi director Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. Alankrita Srivastava presents “Girls of Orlem,” a drama in English and Hindi based on Lindsay Pereira’s novel “Gods and Ends.” Gurvinder Singh is developing a historical thriller series titled “The Trial,” available in Hindi, Punjabi, and English.
The film “#JACK,” a thriller by Bhaskar Hazarika, and “Chhaal” (“The Skin”), a folk thriller by Don Palathara, are also part of the lineup. Anurag Singh’s “Encounter” is a Punjabi and Hindi drama-thriller, and Atika Chohan’s “Husky” is a drama in Hindi, Chhattisgarhi, and English.
“Peach No. 15,” a dark comedy thriller series by Ayappa K.M., and “The Bookkeeper’s Wife,” a drama by Bauddhayan Mukherji, are included as well. Deepa Bhatia’s “Sacred” marks her feature debut, and Disha Rindani’s “LalitA” explores gender themes in its narrative.
Fahad Mustafa’s “Laali” is a Hindi drama-thriller, and “Dhundh Saleti” (“The Whispering Fog”) is a debut feature by Jasmine Kaur and Avinash Roy. “Schooled Abroad,” a hybrid docu-drama series by Kimsi Singh, spans multiple languages.
Nihaarika Negi’s “Feral” belongs to the elevated horror genre, and Randeep Jha’s “April Mein Shootout” is a Hindi thriller. Roopal Kewalya’s “Tigdi aka 3-SUM” and Sona Jain’s “Miss Kumari” offer unique takes on romance and whimsy.
“I.T.A.” by Vandana Kataria is a sci-fi/horror adaptation, and Vikas Chandra’s “19” is a coming-of-age drama. Additionally, three mentorship projects are highlighted, including works by Priyankar Patra, Shivika Jain, and Suyash Kamat.
The festival and market, organized by Cinevesture Pvt. Ltd., aim to connect investors with these curated projects. The event is set in Chandigarh, Punjab, and runs from March 27-31.
Nina Lath, founder and CEO of Cinevesture Pvt. Ltd., brings her experience from leading Film Bazaar. The festival enjoys support from various local institutions and boasts an impressive advisory board, including Jerome Paillard, Rana Daggubati, Nicole Guillemet, and Ajitpal Singh.
CIFF market curator Namrata Joshi emphasizes the diverse and impactful selection of projects, highlighting themes of class, conflict, and identity. The festival promises a rich blend of genres, showcasing the creativity and vision of women filmmakers and stories from Punjab.