The 23rd edition of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) is set to kick off on May 6, 2025, and will run until May 10, 2025. This year’s festival promises to be an exciting celebration of South Asian cinema, featuring a diverse lineup of films from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the U.S., the U.K., and Canada, along with international co-productions from France, Singapore, and Norway.

• Opening Night Gala: The festival will open with Varsha Bharath’s directorial debut, Bad Girl, on May 6, 2025.
• Closing Night Gala: It will close with Lawrence Valin’s debut, Little Jaffna, on May 10, 2025.
• Film Lineup: IFFLA 2025 includes 27 films, comprising seven narrative features, one documentary, 18 shorts, and a special two-episode screening of an anthology series. Notable films include Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears), which won the Grand Jury award at Sundance, and the Los Angeles premiere of DUI Shaw, a psychological drama from Bangladeshi filmmaker Nuhash Humayun.

IFFLA is expanding its Industry Day into a two-day forum. This initiative connects South Asian creatives with Hollywood executives, offering a platform for networking, mentorship, and collaboration. The event includes a $10,000 Pitch Competition Grant, providing emerging filmmakers with an opportunity to develop their projects.

For filmmakers interested in participating, submissions for the IFFLA 2025 Shorts competition were open until December 15, 2024. The features category is curated by invitation only.

The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles continues to be a premier platform for showcasing innovative South Asian cinema. With its diverse lineup and expanded industry events, IFFLA 2025 promises to be an unforgettable experience for both filmmakers and audiences.

Key Highlights:

• The 23rd Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles runs from May 6-10, 2025.
• The festival features 27 films, including seven narrative features and 18 shorts.
• Industry Day is expanded into a two-day forum with a $10,000 Pitch Competition Grant.
• The lineup includes films from across South Asia and its diasporas.