The 11th edition of the India Film Festival of Alberta (IFFA) unveiled its program packed with films, and events, all shining a spotlight on Northeast India and its eight States – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim.
“IFFA is more than a film festival – it’s a cultural bridge, connecting Alberta audiences with the global film community while celebrating the depth and diversity of Indian cinema,” says Madhan Selvaraj, Executive Director of IFFA.
Presented by the Edmonton Movie Club, the travelling film festival will take place in Edmonton, Calgary, and Sherwood Park over three weekends this September.
IFFA 2025 Festival Tour Highlights:
Edmonton – September 5-7, 2025: Film premieres, Q&As, and red carpet celebrations featuring Northeast Indian cinema and special guests at Citadel Theatre (Zideler Hall), Millwoods Seniors Centre Hall, Metro Cinema, and Closing Night Celebrations at Winspear Centre.
Calgary – September 12-14, 2025: Screenings and exclusive appearances, including a special event with SCAM 1992 star Pratik Gandhi at Globe Cinema.
Sherwood Park – September 27-28, 2025: A vibrant community celebration featuring DanceFest, cultural performances, art displays, film screenings, and diverse culinary experiences at The Pointe Agricultural Event Centre.
The IFFA film programming showcase of Northeast India features four titles from four regions of India:
VILLAGE ROCKSTARS 2 (Assamese, Assam) – The much-anticipated sequel to Rima Das’s internationally acclaimed film.
RAPTURE (Garo, Meghalaya) – A visually stunning drama from Meghalaya.
LORNI: THE FLANEUR (Khasi, Meghalaya) – A cinematic journey into identity and belonging.
ISHANOU (Manipuri, Manipur) – A 4k restoration of the timeless classic brought back to life in stunning resolution.
These film screenings will be followed by appearances from festival guests actor Adil Hussain, known for Ang Lee’s Oscar winning Life of Pi, Norwegian’s film What Will People Say by Iram Haq, Mukti Bhawan, director Rima Das (Best known for her 2017 film Village Rockstars, India’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards), and film historian Parthajit Baruah (known for his book, A History of India’s North-East Cinema) who will engage audiences through Q&As, panel discussions, and in-depth conversations.
In addition to Northeast Indian Cinema, IFFA 2025 will also feature movies from other parts of India, including:
PHULE (Hindi) – A powerful biographical drama.
GODDAY GODDAY CHA (Punjabi) – The women’s empowerment comedy-drama.
The World Premiere of KADAKNATH (Gujarati) – A fresh voice in Indian independent cinema.
MAHAVATAR NARSIMHA (Hindi) — A potent blend of divine justice, unshakable faith, and epic mythological spectacle brought to life through animation.
MUKTI BHAWAN (Hindi) – A critically acclaimed drama with a special Q&A featuring Adil Hussain.
RONTH (Malayalam) – Screening with actor Roshan Mathew, director Shahi Kabir, and local Edmonton talent Sajai Sebastian.
On September 3, actor Adil Hussain leads a special actor’s workshop in Edmonton. On September 6, audiences can enjoy a rare Rendezvous with Ulaganayagan Dr. Kamal Haasan. The Edmonton Closing Night Gala on September 7 features a blockbuster Tamil film and a Q&A with Sivakarthikeyan, Sanjay Wadhwa, Mahendran, and Rajkumar Periasamy. The festival wraps up in Calgary on September 14 with SCAM 1992 star Pratik Gandhi joining for a special Q&A.
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