July 18-22, 2018
Stuttgart, Germany
The Indian Film Festival Stuttgart (IIFS), founded in 2004, is one of the largest Indian film festivals in Europe. Initially known as Bollywood And Beyond, the festival is known for focusing on art house cinema, independent productions, regional films, short films and documentaries apart from mainstream Bollywood productions.
Over its last 14 editions, the IIFS has been a melting point of numerous Indian film fans in Mumbai’s twin city Stuttgart. Apart from film screenings, the festival has various other segments such as Tea Talks, a discussion forum on politics, economics and culture; Indian Summer, a performing arts based event; and Indian Encounters, a photography and painting exhibition-based event. Dance workshops and meet-and-greet sessions with the stars are also a part of the festival.
OPENING FEATURE FILM
Kuch Bheege Alfaaz
Directed by Onir, this epistolary romantic drama revolves around a popular radio jockey who likes keeping his identity hidden and a leukodermic girl who is full of life. They end up talking thanks to an accidental phone call. What brews is an unlikely love story between them. Set in Kolkata, the film features Zain Khan Durrani and Geetanjali Thapa in the lead roles.
CLOSING FEATURE FILM
Love And Shukla
The Siddhartha Jatla directorial film deals with the themes of love, sexuality and struggle for privacy. A rickshaw driver named Shukla is married to a shy girl named Lakshmi in an arranged setup. The film traces their quest for conversation and intimacy in a single-room home in a Mumbai chawl that is shared by the entire family. Saharsh Kumar Shukla and Taneea Rajawat play the protagonists in the film.
SHORT FILMS
Wolf Of Chawl Street
Shame
Pawasacha Nibandh
And Sometimes, She Loved Me Too
Tara Versus
Kaktalio
Ekant
Moongfali Wala
Burkha Se Bikini Tak
FEATURES
Ubuntu
Take Off
Mukkabaaz
River Song
Gali Guleiyan
EE. MAA. YOVE.
Mayurakshi
Veere Di Wedding
Rukh
DOCUMENTARIES
Kho Ki Pa Lü
Veil Done
Sisya
Jasoosni
Decoding Shankar
Pushkar Puran
Masala Chai
The Doctor From India
GERMAN STAR OF INDIA AWARD
For the best feature film, this award comes with a prize money of €4,000. It is presented by honourary consul Andreas Lapp. The best short film and the best documentary is chosen by a jury consisting of renowned directors, producers, screenwriters and industry experts. The awards for these categories are accompanied with a prize money of €1,000.
DIRECTOR’S VISION AWARD
This award is given to the director who has shown extraordinary social or political commitment in their film.
AUDIENCE AWARD
Awarded by the audience, the prize money worth €1,000 is offered to the winning film.
– Titas Chowdhury