The 10th Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival, a much-anticipated celebration of unique films from throughout the world, will take place from January 15 to 19, 2025, at PVR INOX, Prozone Mall, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The festival will feature several national and international acts.
AIFF is organized by the Marathwada Art, Culture, and Film Foundation and presented by the Nath Group, Mahatma Gandhi Mission, and Yashwantrao Chavan Centre. It is supported by the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and the Federation of Film Societies of India. It is also supported by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, the National Film Development Corporation Ltd., the Government of Maharashtra, and the Maharashtra Film, State, and Cultural Development Corporation Ltd. The co-organizers are Solitaire Towers and the Abhyudaya Foundation, with MGM School of Film Arts as the academic partner and MGM Radio FM 90.8 as the radio partner.
The festival tries to bring world-class films to cinema enthusiasts, give a venue for filmmakers, technicians, artists, and young cinema fans to exchange ideas and study the art and craft of filmmaking, Establish Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Marathwada as a global cultural and production hub, promote tourism in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to attract both national and international visitors, facilitate interactions between talented Marathwada artists and film industry experts, and showcase contemporary Marathi cinema on a national and international scale.
The five-day festival offers a jam-packed schedule of events. As in previous editions, the Indian Cinema Competition category will include nine films in various Indian languages. These films will be evaluated by a panel of five national jury members, as well as by the audience.
The Best Indian Film will get the Golden Kailas Award and a monetary prize of ₹1 lakh. In addition, individual prizes will be given for Best Screenplay and Best Actor (Male/Female).
The selection panel for the Indian Cinema Competition will be headed onstage by acclaimed actress Seema Biswas (Guwahati). The judging panel consists of veteran cinematographer C. K. Muraleedharan (Mumbai), senior editor Deepa Bhatia (Mumbai), recognized director Joe Baby (Kochi), and renowned screenwriter and actor Girish Joshi (Mumbai).
The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) will also form a special jury for the festival. FIPRESCI India, which is known for rewarding films of extraordinary quality at festivals throughout the world, is highly regarded. Their jury will assess debut or second films by upcoming directors during the festival. Latika Padgaonkar, a famous writer and film critic, will lead the FIPRESCI jury, which also includes Shiladitya Sen (West Bengal) and G. P. Ramachandran (Kerala).
In honor of the festival’s tenth anniversary, the organizing committee has arranged a special event for film enthusiasts in Marathwada. The festival will show Kaliya Mardan, a renowned silent film directed by the pioneer of Indian cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke, 105 years ago. This presentation will recreate the sensation of seeing silent films with live music. The Kolkata-based ensemble group Shatabdir Shabda will provide live music during the screening.
NFDC General Manager D. Ramakrishnan, Swati Mhase Patil, Managing Director, Maharashtra Film, Stage, and Cultural Development Corporation, AIFF Organizing Committee Chairman Nandkishore Kagliwal, MGM University Chancellor Ankushrao Kadam, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Vilas Sapkal, Festival Director Sunil Sukthankar, Artistic Director Chandrakant Kulkarni, and Prozone Centre Director & Senior Vice President Kamal R. Soni are among the dignitaries in attendance.
The festival’s concluding ceremony will be held on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at 5 p.m. at PVR-INOX in Prozone Mall. The occasion will be graced by the participation of acclaimed choreographer and filmmaker Farah Khan, Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty, and the festival’s honorary chairman, filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker.
After the Golden Kailash Award presentation, the festival will finish with a showing of the critically acclaimed Persian film The Seed of Sacred Fig, which is also nominated for Academy Awards in 2025. In addition to film screenings, the five-day festival will offer a wide range of intriguing programs:
Workshop by Tigmanshu Dhulia:
Tigmanshu Dhulia, acclaimed filmmaker of Paan Singh Tomar, Haasil, and Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster, will hold a masterclass on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at 12 p.m. He will be in conversation with Dnyanesh Zoting, a prominent filmmaker.
Ashutosh Gowariker’s Interview:
An exclusive interview with director Ashutosh Gowariker on ’20 Years of Swades’ will take place on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at 6 p.m. The interview will be conducted by renowned theater and cinema director Chandrakant Kulkarni.
Panel Conversation about OTT Cinema:
A panel discussion on The Changing Face of Cinema on OTT Platforms will take place on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 12 PM, with famous directors from around India.
Debate on Marathi Language and Cinema:
A panel discussion on the Classical Status of Marathi Language and Marathi Cinema will be place on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 6 p.m. The panelists will include acclaimed cinema critic Latika Padgaonkar, actor Subodh Bhave, writer Kshitij Patwardhan, Dhananjay Sanvalkar, deputy managing director of the Maharashtra cinema Corporation, and director Chandrakant Kulkarni. Sunil Sukthankar, the festival director, will moderate the event.
Discussion on modern film techniques:
A panel discussion on The Language of Modern Cinema Techniques will take place on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 12 PM, with Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty, cinematographer C. K. Muraleedharan, editor Deepa Bhatia, and director Joe Baby. Jayprad Desai, a filmmaker, will moderate this session.
Apprenticeship by Farah Khan:
On Sunday, January 19, 2025, at 3:30 PM, famous choreographer and filmmaker Farah Khan will hold a masterclass at PVR-Inox, Prozone Mall. She will be speaking with famous director Jayprad Desai.
The directors, actors, and crew of the regional films in the competition segment will mingle with the audience following their screenings.
AIFF conducted a short film competition to promote short filmmaking in Marathwada. The competition attracted passionate participation from all eight districts in the region. The five finalist short films from this category will be screened at the festival. The best short film will receive a memento and ₹25,000 in cash.
