IN THE NAME OF FIRE- SWAHA
(2024; 99 minutes; Magahi with English subtitles)
Director: Abhilash Sharma
With Sonalli Sharmisstha, Satya Ranjan, Chandra Shekhar Dutta, Bulloo Kumar, Sarbind Kumar
Recipient of Golden Goblet Award for Best Director, Asian New Talent Competition, 26th Shanghai International Film Festival (2024)
Against the backdrop of rural Bihar, the film follows a young Dalit woman navigating the harsh realities of caste, superstition and economic hardship. Through her deeply personal journey, the film offers a sensitive exploration of faith, power and survival.
 

FEMINICHI FATHIMA (FEMINIST FATHIMA)
(2024; 99 minutes; Malayalam with English subtitles)
Director: Fasil Muhammed

With Shamla Hamza, Kumar Sunil, Akhil Nazim, Hanana Parveen, Pushpa Rajan.

Recipient of Best Malayalam Film, 72nd National Film Awards; Second Best Film, Best Actress and Best Debutant Director, Kerala State Film Awards; FIPRESCI, NETPAC and Jury Awards, 29th International Film Festival of Kerala

In a conservative Muslim family in Kerala, Fathima's determination to replace a worn-out mattress sets in motion an unexpected journey of self-discovery. Through her experiences, the film offers a sensitive reflection on women's agency, dignity and the quiet acts of resilience that challenge deeply entrenched social norms.

GONDHAL 
(2025; 120 minutes; Marathi with English subtitles)
Director: Santosh Davakhar

With Kishor Kadam, Ishita Deshmukh, Yogesh Sohoni, Suresh Vishwakarma, Nishad Bhoir

Recipient of Silver Peacock for Best Director, 56th International Film Festival of India; Official Selection – Golden Peacock Competition, 56th International Film Festival of India.

Set against the backdrop of a traditional overnight Gondhal ritual in rural Maharashtra, the film follows a young bride whose desperate bid for freedom sets in motion a tense and unsettling chain of events. Blending folklore, ritual and psychological suspense, Gondhal explores power, faith and desire, while offering a compelling portrait of the social realities that shape life in the region. Atmospheric and richly rooted in local tradition, the film transforms a culturally significant ritual into a gripping meditation on oppression, resistance and human resilience.

AAPISH (THE OFFICE)
(2025; 104 minutes; Bengali with English subtitles)
Directors: Abhijit Guha & Sudeshna Roy

With Sudipta Chakraborty, Sandipta Sen, Kinjal Nanda, Tathagata Chowdhury

The film follows the lives of two working women from vastly different social and economic backgrounds whose paths unexpectedly converge. As they navigate the competing demands of work, home and family, their evolving relationship lays bare the invisible burdens of gender, class and caregiving. Through this poignant narrative, the film offers a sensitive reflection on dignity, resilience and the power of empathy in challenging entrenched social norms. Quietly observant yet deeply affecting, Aapish celebrates the strength found in solidarity and the shared humanity that transcends social divides.

India International Centre Film Club in collaboration with FIPRESCI-India
 

Connections

A Group Exhibition of Drawings, Prints, Paintings and New Media

Curated by Jitendra Padam Jain and conceptualised by Annkush B. Sharma

The exhibition brings together the works of six contemporary artists whose diverse practices in painting, drawing, printmaking and new media explore the relationships between memory, identity, place and tradition. Through varied artistic languages, the exhibition reflects on the invisible threads that connect people, histories and cultures, inviting viewers into a shared space of dialogue and discovery.

Participating artists: Kanchan Chander, Kavita Nayar, Nandadulal Mukherjee, Sabia, Siddhant Medhi, and Sukhwinder Singh

The exhibition will be inaugurated on Tuesday, 18th August’26 at 18:00 hrs

The exhibition will remain open daily from 11:00 to 19:00 hrs

IIC/Media Dialogues

Gen Z Risen: How the Media Reported the Youth Protests

Moderator: Poornima Joshi, Editor, The Hindu BusinessLine

Discussants: Aditya Menon, Political Editor, The Quint; Sarvapriya Sangwan, Editor, Digital Videos (Indian Languages), BBC News; Ayush Tiwari, Special Correspondent, The Scroll; Saurabh Shukla, Co-Founding Editor, The Red Mike

The discussion explores media coverage of the recent Gen Z-led youth protests, reflecting on how mainstream news, social media and independent digital platforms shaped public understanding of the movement and the changing landscape of contemporary journalism.

(Collaboration: The Media Foundation)
 

Think Smart

Thinking Strategies

Introductory Remarks: K.N Shrivastava, Director, IIC

Chair: Dr Karan Singh, statesman, philosopher and thinker

Speaker: Mala Varma Thapar; Writer and Poet

Vote of Thanks: Usha Munshi, Chief Librarian, IIC

The discussion will examine the importance of reflective thinking in an increasingly complex world, with a focus on education and culture. Exploring thirteen modes of creative and critical thinking, it will consider how different ways of thinking can enrich decision-making, public discourse and interpersonal relationships, while fostering understanding and peace.