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The Indic Film Utsav (IFU) announced the lineup for its 6th edition, The Festival of Positive Cinema, showcasing films that inspire, uplift, and celebrate human resilience across cultures.
The festival will take place between November 7–9, 2025, at the Galaxy Theater at the Grandscape, The Colony in Dallas, TX.
Founded in 2020 as an OTT festival, Indic Film Utsav has evolved into a fully theatrical experience based out of Dallas, which has a rapidly growing Indian community.
The festival will open on November 7 with the North American premiere of American Warrior, directed by Gustavo Martin Benites, a gripping narrative of an Indian American protagonist played by Vishy Ayyar, forced to confront his past. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker and cast.
This year’s festival brings together narrative features, short films, student works, and documentaries in English, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada, Konkani, and Bengali, with English subtitles. About twenty films were selected from over 1350 entries to the festival.
Audiences can experience cinema deeply rooted in the textures of India and its neighboring regions. From the searing exposé on Hindu phobia by Caste Gate – The Untold Story by Vikram Mishra to the lyrical Bengali feature Ahana – The Light Within, by Promita Bhowmick, the festival embraces stories that are both urgent and timeless.
Rediscover musical heritage in Nirmal Chander’s 6A Akash Ganga about the legendary musician Annapurna Devi, explore heritage in Jayan Cherian’s Rhythm of Dammam, and experience 19th-century Nepal in Phurba Tshering Lama’s Jaar.
Films like Ravi Nimbalkar’s 87 Rupees Ink Pen, and Aata Tu Motha Jhalas capture childlike innocence, survival, and the dilemmas of growing up. Shorts such as All Water is Holy Water, and Cowboys and Hindus spotlight resilience, identity, and cultural exchange. Two student shorts – Bhamakalapam and Lady Bird! Together, reflect the diversity, vitality, and human spirit that define Indic cinema.
Now in its sixth year, the Indic Film Utsav has become a global stage for independent filmmakers championing cinema rooted in empathy, dignity, and hope. Alongside screenings, the festival will host Q&A sessions, networking opportunities with participating filmmakers, and special events for the wider Dallas film-loving community.
About Indic Film Utsav
According to Danji Thotapalli, Co-founder and Chief Curator of Indic Film Utsav, “The Indic Film Utsav is more than a weekend of screenings — it’s a celebration of stories that uplift, connect, and inspire. Every film we select reflects our core belief in the power of cinema to highlight the human spirit and spark meaningful conversations. In a world often clouded by negativity, our festival offers a refreshing space to discover hopeful, culturally rich, and creative voices from India and beyond.”
For more information, go to 6th Indica Film Utsav