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The 23rd edition of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) has unveiled the 2025 lineup. The festival will open with Varsha Bharath’s directorial debut Bad Girl . The IFFLA will be held from May 6 to May 10, 2025.
Lawrence Valin’s debut movie Little Jaffna will be the closing film of the event. Bad Girl is produced by Vetrimaaran, Anurag Kashyap and Vikrem Vybav RS. The film stars Anjali Sivaraman, Shanthi Priya, Saranya Ravichandran, Hridhu Haroon, TeeJay Arunasalam, and Sashank Bommireddipallin.
The official logline of the film says, “From her journey through high school and college, then out into the wider world, Ramya’s dream of finding the perfect guy is obstructed by societal mores, strict parents, unrequited love and the untrammelled chaos of her own mind.” This year’s lineup includes a mix of South Asian films from countries like India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the U.S.
, the U.K., and Canada, along with international co-productions from France, Singapore, and Norway.
IFFLA 2025 will feature 27 films, including seven narrative features, one documentary, 18 shorts, and a special two-episode screening of an anthology series. The festival includes two world premieres, six North American premieres, three U.S.
premieres, and 14 Los Angeles premieres. “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 Anu Rangachar, IFFLA’s Artistic Director. ALSO READ: Rohan Kanawade on Sundance win: Recognition for ‘Sabar Bonda’ is a victory for Marathi cinema At the heart of this year’s lineup is Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears), fresh off its Grand Jury win at Sundance.
Rohan Kanawade’s debut feature is a ground-breaking exploration of queer intimacy within India’s rigid societal norms. Other standout features include the North American premiere of Raam Reddy’s ( Thithi ) The Fable , a mysterious tale led by Manoj Bajpayee, who plays an estate owner confronting unexplained fires consuming his land. The film also boasts a stellar cast, including Priyanka Bose, Tillotama Shome, and Deepak Dobriyal.
Deepak Rauniyar’s ( White Sun, Four Nights ) Pooja, Sir is a taut police procedural following a female detective investigating the disappearance of two boys in a Nepalese border town. Meanwhile, Rima Das’ ( Bulbul Can Sing, Tora’s Husband ) Village Rockstars 2 continues her acclaimed coming-of-age saga, chronicling a teenage girl’s pursuit of music amid life’s harsh realities. Aranya Sahay’s ( Saaya ) Humans in the Loop presents a tender, layered portrait of a single mother navigating her relationship with her teenage daughter while working as a data annotator—one of the invisible workers behind India’s growing AI industry.
The screening will include a special panel on responsible technology and AI ethics, featuring filmmakers and industry experts. The documentary A Fly on the Wall , from Nilesh Maniyar and Shonali Bose ( Margarita with a Straw ), delivers a deeply personal and unflinching portrait of a man asserting autonomy over his final moments. IFFLA 2025 will also showcase the Los Angeles premiere of the television series DUI Shaw , a psychological drama from Bangladeshi filmmaker Nuhash Humayun, blending supernatural horror with South Asia’s stark realities.
The screening will be followed by a masterclass with the filmmaker, an IFFLA shorts alum. The event will be held at Landmark Theatres Sunset and the WGA Theatre. For passes, tickets, and gala access visit www.
indianfilmfestival.org . Published - April 02, 2025 04:16 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit English cinema / World cinema / Indian cinema.
