In an industry long defined by spectacle, scale, and formula, a quieter, more urgent cinema has been taking root. Over the last two decades, a new generation of Indian filmmakers has been reshaping the cinematic landscape, not with star vehicles or blockbuster budgets, but with stories that feel lived-in, restless, and real. These are films that question, confront, and linger.

They are often made on modest means but with an expansive vision.

From award-winning festival favourites like Court (2015), Masaan (2014), and The Lunchbox (2013), to urgent new voices tackling complex themes like caste, gender, sexuality, and identity, these films are not only challenging the rules
of production and distribution but are also expanding the cultural imagination of what Indian cinema can be, both at home and on the global stage. This movement did not emerge overnight. It has grown out of shifting technologies, shifting tastes, and shifting access. Digital cameras and editing tools became cheaper. Streaming platforms broke the
monopoly of theatre chains. Audiences began seeking stories that reflect who they are, not just who they aspire to be.

Institutions like NFDC’s Film Bazaar and festivals both at home and abroad began offering support systems, if not always sufficient, for these new voices. The result is a cinematic space in India that is more diverse and daring than ever before.
Waterfront Indie Film Festival (WIFF) Mumbai, The Daily Eye, Rangshila Theatre, National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai and Avid Learning, present The Art of Independent Cinema: Curating for Change, the official curtain raiser to the inaugural edition of the festival. This panel discussion brings together some of the most vital voices from the
world of indie cinema, filmmakers, curators, critics, and festival directors, including Producer Bobby Bedi, Columnist, Author and Festival Director, Waterfront Indie Film Festival (WIFF) Mumbai, Deepa Gahlot, Actor, Director, and Writer Rajat Kapoor, Director, Producer, and Writer Sudhir Mishra, Director, Writer, Producer, and Founder Festival Director, KASHISH Pride Film Festival Sridhar Rangayan, and Producer, Director, and Writer Shoojit Sircar.

The panelist will engage in a reflective conversation on the shape of things to come, discussing: What role do festivals play in spotlighting bold new voices? How can we dismantle old hierarchies of access and support? And what does it mean to
curate not just content, but context? The conversation will be moderated by Actor and Producer Richa Chadha.

The Waterfront Indie Film Festival, presented by The Daily Eye in partnership with Rangshila Theatre, will debut in Mumbai from October 4th to 6th, 2025. This exciting new festival aims to celebrate the world of independent cinema,
showcasing an eclectic mix of feature films, short films, documentaries, and experimental works from diverse global filmmakers, with a special focus on South Asian cinema.

Conceived by a passionate trio of cultural visionaries—Deepa Gahlot, a renowned author, journalist, and columnist; Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri, journalist, film critic, and editor at Om Books International; and Vinta Nanda, filmmaker and editor of The Daily Eye—the festival is set to be an annual celebration of creative freedom in filmmaking. Its mission is
not only to screen cutting-edge independent films but also to foster a dynamic space for collaboration and interaction between trailblazing filmmakers, studios, and entertainment networks.

For over a decade, Avid Learning has curated film-centric programs that go beyond the screen, bringing together directors, writers, critics, and cinephiles to explore the art and industry of cinema in all its complexity. From workshops

on screenwriting and filmmaking to deep dives into film journalism and appreciation, our initiatives have championed both emerging voices and evolving forms. Whether decoding the future of cinema through our Reimagining Cinema with Artificial Intelligence program or spotlighting the resilience of documentary storytelling, Avid Learning remains
committed to cultivating dialogue around the stories that shape us.
This curtain raiser is part of #CinemaforChange, Avid Learning’s series that partners with film festivals, filmmakers, and storytellers to spotlight cinema as a catalyst for creativity and conversation. Showcasing independent voices, environmental narratives, emerging genres, and global perspectives, the series explores how stories on screen shape
culture, spark dialogue, and expand the ways we see the world.

Join us to celebrate the art of indie storytelling, where compelling voices, daring ideas, and powerful narratives are reshaping the landscape of cinema.

Program Details:
When: Thursday, 25th September 2025 | 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Where: National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai
Register: www.avidlearning.in
Press: ayeshah.avid@gmail.com

About Speakers:
Bobby Bedi is film producer renowned for backing critically acclaimed and offbeat cinematic projects. With a background in management and finance, Bedi ventured into the film industry, bringing a unique perspective to storytelling. He founded Kaleidoscope Entertainment and has since produced a distinguished body of work. Bedi’s
filmography includes several landmark films such as Shekhar Kapur’s Bandit Queen (1994), which won critical acclaim at Cannes, and Deepa Mehta’s Fire (1996), which sparked important conversations.

He also produced Vishal Bhardwaj’s Shakespearean adaptation, Maqbool (2003), and the historical epic The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey (2005). Bedi has been recognized for his contributions to cinema with multiple National Film Awards.

Deepa Gahlot writes extensively on cinema, theatre, the arts, women’s issues for several publications and websites including her own, deepagahlot.com. She has won the National Award for Best Film Criticism. She has edited several cinema journals, her work has appeared in anthologies on women’s studies and cinema–Bollywood Popular Indian
Cinema, Behind the Scenes of Hindi Cinema A Visual Journey through the Heart of Bollywood, Janani, Bollywood’s Top 20: Superstars of Indian Cinema, Legends of Indian Silver Screen: The Winners of Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1992-
2014), The Oldest Love Story. Her books, The Prithviwallahs (co-authored with Shashi Kapoor), and biographies of Shah Rukh Khan and Shammi Kapoor, Take 2: 50 Films that Deserve a New Audience and Sheroes: 25 Daring Women of Bollywood have been published. She is currently consulting editor for mumbaitheatreguide.com and co-founder and Festival Director of the Waterfront Independent Film Festival.Rajat Kapoor is a versatile Indian actor, writer, and director, known for his significant contributions to both parallel and mainstream cinema, as well as theatre. An alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), he began his career in the 1980s, making his acting debut in Khayal Gatha (1989). He gained widespread recognition for his roles in films like Dil Chahta Hai (2001) and Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding (2001). However, Kapoor’s directorial work, often characterized by its quirky and unconventional
storytelling, has earned him immense critical acclaim. His notable films as a director include Raghu Romeo (2003), which won a National Film Award, and the highly praised Ankhon Dekhi (2014). His performances in OTT shows like Tanaav (2022-24), Lootere (2024) and Saare Jahan Se Accha (2025) have been praised. He has also received National
Awards for his documentaries and short films.

Rajat Kapoor is a versatile Indian actor, writer, and director, known for his significant contributions to both parallel and mainstream cinema, as well as theatre. An alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), he began his
career in the 1980s, making his acting debut in Khayal Gatha (1989). He gained widespread recognition for his roles in films like Dil Chahta Hai (2001) and Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding (2001). However, Kapoor’s directorial work, often
characterized by its quirky and unconventional storytelling, has earned him immense critical acclaim. His notable films as a director include Raghu Romeo (2003), which won a National Film Award, and the highly praised Ankhon Dekhi (2014). His performances in OTT shows like Tanaav (2022-24), Lootere (2024) and Saare Jahan Se Accha (2025) have
been praised. He has also received National Awards for his documentaries and short films.
Sudhir Mishra is a respected filmmaker known for his critically acclaimed and socially conscious cinema. Born in Lucknow, he began his career in the early 1980s as an assistant director and screenwriter for films like the classic comedy Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron (1983). Mishra made his directorial debut with Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin (1987), which
earned him a National Film Award for Best First Film of a Director. He went on to create a distinguished body of work, including Dharavi (1991), Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin (1996), and Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2003). His work for OTT platforms, Tanaav (2022-24), Afwaah (2024) have been appreciated too. His films often explore complex human
dramas and the socio-political realities of India. His work has been recognized with three National Film Awards and the French government’s Order of Arts and Letters.
Sridhar Rangayan is the only Indian director, writer and producer consistently making LGBTQ+ focused content for the past nearly three decades. His award winning films The Pink Mirror, Yours Emotionally, 68 Pages, Purple Skies, Breaking Free, Evening Shadows, Raja Bro and Kuch Sapney Apne have helped kick start conversations around LGBTQ+
issues, and have catalysed legal and social changes. His films have won 37 international awards including a National Awrad, and screened at over 250 film festivals. His films The Pink Mirror, Breaking Free and Evening Shadows have streamed on Netflix. He has been on international festival juries such as Berlinale, Iris Prize, MardiGras, Tasveer,
Outfest, Movies That Matter, etc.

He is also the festival director of KASHISH Pride Film Festival, which has over the past 16 years emerged as South Asia’s biggest LGBTQ+ film festival. The festival provides a platform for producing, exhibiting and distributing Indian LGBTQ+
content and helping the young filmmakers.

Shoojit Sircar is a filmmaker known for his impactful work in Hindi cinema. Born in Kolkata, he made his directorial debut with the romantic war drama Yahaan (2005). Sircar gained widespread recognition with the social comedy Vicky Donor (2012), which tackled the taboo subject of sperm donation and won him a National Film Award. He has since
helmed critically acclaimed and commercially successful films such as the political thriller Madras Cafe (2013), the heartwarming father-daughter story Piku (2015), the intense love story October (2018) and the historical drama Sardar Udham (2021). Sircar’s filmmaking style is characterized by his authentic narratives and a focus on human
emotions. He has received three National Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards for his work.

Richa Chadha is an acclaimed Indian actress known for her powerful and unconventional roles in Hindi cinema. A trained theatre artist, she began her career with a small part in Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (2008), but her breakthrough came with her role as the feisty Nagma Khatoon in Anurag Kashyap’s cult classic Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), which earned her a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress. Chadha has consistently defied conventional Bollywood norms, delivering critically acclaimed performances in films like Masaan (2015), Sarbjit (2016), and Section 375 (2019). She is also celebrated for her portrayal of the popular character Bholi Punjaban in the Fukrey franchise. Along with her husband actor Ali Fazal, Chadha is a producer of the acclaimed film Girls Will Be Girls (2024) and an outspoken
advocate on various social issues.