The 5th edition of Wench Film Festival Opens with Shruti Haasan starrer British Psychological thriller ‘The Eye’ who will do a post-screening Q&A and Close with Ishan Shukla’s IFFR winner feature ‘Schirkoa – In Lies We Trust’
~Founded by filmmaker Sapna Bhavnani, India’s first horror film festival brings the female perspective to the centre stage by screening 35 out of 42 films directed by women~
-Wench Film Festival collaborates with the world’s top genre fests Fantasia and Imagine Fantastic Film Festival this year~
~Oscar Nominated short I’m Not a Robot is a part of the Fantasia x Wench Collaboration~
~Wench Film Festival held from February 27th to March 2, 2025 is expanding and will have a Kolkata Edition this year~
~Bhavnani is all set to launch India’s first horror portal Terror Talkies at Wench Film Festival~
-Wench has collaborated with World For All Animal Care and Adoptions and production designer Sukant Panigrahi to create Silent Skies – an art installation which will highlight the plight of our birds~
Mumbai, 6th February 2025: The 5th edition of Wench Film Festival, India’s first horror film festival, founded by filmmaker Sapna Bhavnani is back again with 42 films inclusive of LGBTQ women and Non Binary filmmakers to be held from February 27-2 March, marking the third physical edition of the Festival.

With this edition, the festival attempts to bring the female perspective to the centre stage by screening 35 films by women filmmakers out of 42 films.

The festival will Open with the India Premiere of ‘The Eye’ starring Shruti Haasan and Mark Rowley directed by Daphne Schmon and Close with IFFR winner feature ‘Schirkoa – In Lies We Trust’ directed by Ishan Shukla.

This year, Wench collaborates with the world’s top genre fests Fantasia and Imagine Fantastic Film Festival this year. Oscar Nominated short I’m Not a Robot is a part of the Fantasia x Wench Collaboration.
As part of its expansion, the festival will also have a Kolkata edition held at Skinny Mo’s Jazz Club on Mar 2nd. The festival will have two venues in Mumbai Veda Kunba (feb 27-Mar 2) and Theosophy Hall, Alliance Francias (Feb 28th)

The films will be shown under three different categories, Blood Thirsty (60 mins and above), Dwarves (10 to 40 mins), and Elves (Less than 10 mins) with awards in each section. The jury for three different categories will comprise Chris Orgelt and Harini Laxminarayan (Blood Thirsty), Aruna Raje Patil (Dwarves) and Carolyn Mauricette (Elves).

One of the key highlights of the festival is the launch of India’s first horror / sci fi publication ‘Terror Talkies’ and Masterclasses by Dr. Riksundar BANERJEE and Vishal Furia. There will be an India Focus day featuring 5 captivating films, physical screenings / Art Installation / Masterclasses at Veda Kunba on1st March.

The program includes 7 Indian and 35 international films with 13 India Premieres, 25 Asia Premieres and 3 World Premieres.

Sapna Bhavnani, Founder of the Wench Film Festival says, “Wench Film Festival 2025 isn’t just bigger—it’s bolder, bloodier, and smashes more glass ceilings. With the launch of Terror Talkies- India’s first horror publication / online and offline, legendary horror masterclass, India’s finest genre films, and experiences that push every boundary, this year, fear has never looked this good.”

Schedule

Feb 27 – Opening Film – India Premiere of THE EYE with the actor Shruti Haasan followed by a Q&A

Feb 28 – Physical Screenings at Veda Kunba

Feb 28 – Physical Screenings at AF Theosophy Hall

March 1 – India Focus Day featuring 5 captivating films physical screenings / Performances / Panels at Veda Kunba

March 2 – Closing Film – Mumbai Premiere of Schirkoa – In Lies We Trust followed by a Q&A with the Director and performances at Veda Kunba

March 2 – Screenings at Skinny Mo’s in Kolkata followed by a Talk by author adn scholar Dr Banerjee

Link for complete screening schedule

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dKHklMGMFdF9lx5cQKLiDy0a0_HuHCNNOuOO8NtSXR8/edit?gid=602618442#gid=602618442

Link for Tickets

Mumbai- VEDA KUNBA https://sklbx.com/SmkT3nMp, Alliance Francaise https://sklbx.com/A6qoNPFD

Kolkata- https://sklbx.com/jvYtCQVT

ABOUT WENCH FILM FESTIVAL 2025

Wench Film Festival is India’s first Horror / Sci-Fi / Fantasy Film Festival showcasing films inclusive of LGBTQ+ women, and non-binary filmmakers.

Since its first edition in 2021, WFF has screened 146 films and Spotlighted 352 Women. Even though WFF gives preference to films Directed by Women and Non-Binary Filmmakers, they do however have a special category for Male Filmmakers who have directed films with a central female plot or key female HOD’s.
In 2024 we took giant leaps in the world of genre films, presenting a meticulously curated selection of 29 films that transported our audiences to worlds unknown. In 2025 we have scaled to 42 films and added multiple screening locations. 2025. Wench has scaled to 3 locations in 2 Cities – Mumbai and Kolkata 42 FILMS 35 DIRECTED BY WOMEN. And to top it all a stellar collaboration with Fantasia FIlm Festival and Imagine Fantastic Film Festival.

Wench Film Festival will continue to be a crucial pillar of the Wench blue-print that is committed to empowering the women and the non-binary voice with support across the entire value chain in the creator economy – Education, Funding, Community and Distribution.

Visit the website for more info https://www.wenchfilmfestival.com

About Sapna Bhavnani

Sapna Moti Bhavnani is best known for her award winning documentary Sindhustan (2019) which is about the largest migration of a culture (Sindhi) in history told through tattoos on her body. Sindhustan has won 11 Awards, travelled to 23 international festivals and is now streaming on MovieSaints.

Her second hybrid feature My Dog IS Sick was an official selection at the prestigious Visions Du Reel Film Market and World Premiered at New Horizons International Festival in 2021. The story for Sapna’s next horror feature Bearlike Man was officially selected at NAFF presented by Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival 2021 making her the first Indian Woman Director to ever get selected and in 2022 at the BIFFF genre market. She was also selected at BIFAN in 2022 as an official mentee at the Fantastic Film School.

In July 2020 Sapna launched her production company called Wench Films to empower the female gaze. Keeping the same Wench philosophy, she founded Wench Film Festival – India’s first Horror Film Festival. Since its first edition in 2021, WIFF has screened 146 films and Spotlighted 352 Women. In Oct 2024, she launched India’s first Zombiecon.

She is currently writing the screenplay for Bearlike Man which was an official selection in the NAFF and BIFFF markets and developing a hybrid feature titled Wolf Song based on a young woman with hypertrichosis, also known as the “werewolf syndrome’ and her inspiring journey to become a singer, unravelling the transformative power of music amidst familial and societal challenges. Wolf Song has been officially selected as a WomanInFan Finalist at Sitges 2024.