MUMBAI: The 23rd Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) returns with a stellar lineup, reaffirming its status as the premier showcase for South Asian cinema in the U.S. This year’s festival, running from 6-10 May 2025 at Landmark Theatres Sunset and WGA Theatre, opens with Varsha Bharath’s directorial debut Bad Girl and concludes with Lawrence Valin’s Little Jaffna, both deeply rooted in south Asian narratives.
IFFLA 2025 also expands its Industry Day into a two-day forum, connecting south Asian filmmakers with Hollywood executives and offering a $10,000 Pitch Competition Grant to support emerging talent.
The festival will screen 27 films, spanning India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the U.S., the U.K., and Canada, alongside international co-productions from France, Singapore, and Norway. This year’s slate includes two world premieres, six north American premieres, three U.S. premieres, and 14 Los Angeles premieres, reflecting a dynamic mix of new voices and bold storytelling.
"Beyond individual highlights, this year’s lineup celebrates the rich diversity of south Asian cinema with a strong emphasis on female-driven narratives both in front and behind the camera," said IFFLA’s artistic director Anu Rangachar. "We are thrilled to present an expanded lineup that not only showcases an exciting mix of talent, ranging from fearless new voices to returning alums and established auteurs, but also sparks vital conversations.”
Among the must-watch films is Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears), fresh off its Grand Jury win at Sundance. Directed by Rohan Kanawade, the film is a groundbreaking exploration of queer intimacy within India’s rigid societal norms.
Other standout features include, north American premiere of Raam Reddy’s The Fable – a gripping mystery starring Manoj Bajpayee, Priyanka Bose, and Tillotama Shome, Deepak Rauniyar’s Pooja, Sir – a tense police procedural set in a Nepalese border town, Rima Das’ Village Rockstars 2 – continuing her acclaimed coming-of-age saga, Aranya Sahay’s Humans in the Loop – exploring AI ethics through the life of a single mother working as a data annotator.
The documentary A Fly on the Wall, from Nilesh Maniyar and Shonali Bose (Margarita with a Straw), delivers an unflinching look at one man’s quest for autonomy over his final moments.
IFFLA 2025 will also host the Los Angeles premiere of the psychological drama DUI Shaw by Bangladeshi filmmaker Nuhash Humayun, blending supernatural horror with south Asia’s stark realities. A special masterclass with the filmmaker will follow the screening.
