IAWRT Asian Women’s Film Festival 2025
IAWRT India Chapter
Overview
In the first quarter of 2025, the India Chapter of the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) successfully organized four major activities that showcased its continued commitment to fostering women’s voices in media and the arts. These included the Young Directors’ Workshop, a film competition celebrating women artists, a panel discussion on Women and the Arts, and the milestone 20th edition of the Asian Women’s Film Festival (AWFF).
Young Directors’ Workshop (Feb 10–15, 2025) In partnership with: Delhi Tourism
Location: Delhi
Participants: 25 young women from urban slums, in collaboration with Yellow Streets
This intensive week-long workshop was designed to train young women community journalists in the fundamentals of cinematic language and editing. Facilitated by filmmakers Samina Mishra and Nundrisha Wakhloo, and supported by student mentors from Bennett University, the participants explored themes of freedom, friendship, sadness, and joy through practical filmmaking exercises.
Workshop highlights:
· Focus on visual storytelling, mise-en-scène, editing, and sound design.
· Short films produced during the workshop were screened at the opening ceremony of AWFF and received widespread appreciation.
· Films included titles like Ghar Ka Ehsaas, Jama Masjid Ki Sair, Pinky, Yellow Streets, and Mere Sheher Mein Dhobi Basti.
“Through the workshop, these young women found their voices and the power to tell their stories. It was more than training—it was transformation.”
As partners, Delhi Tourism was prominently featured in all communications and standees throughout the workshop and festival.
Film Competition – Celebrating Women Artists (Call: Jan 17; Winners Announced: Mar 5, 2025) Partners: British Council, Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT)
A nationwide call was put out for films made since 2015 that spotlight the life and work of women artists in India. Open to filmmakers of any gender, the competition received 76 entries, judged by an expert jury of IAWRT members consisting of Jabeen Merchant, Natasha Badhwar, Surabhi Sharma, Deepti Khurana and Sonali Srivastava.
Awards:
· Jury Award: Ima Sabitri by Bobo Khuraijam
· Special Mentions: Hello Guyzz by Samiksha Mathur and The Outside In by Hansa Thapliyal
· Popular Choice Award: Makhfi by Prachee Bajania (determined by YouTube likes, totalling over 14,000 views)
Winners were felicitated at the British Council Auditorium on March 5, 2025.
Panel Discussion – Reframing the Conversation: Women and the Arts (Mar 5, 2025) Venue: British Council Auditorium, New Delhi. Moderator: Ruchira Das, Director Arts (India), British Council
This vibrant and reflective panel explored the intersection of gender and artistic practice. It featured speakers such as Arnika Ahldag, Shweta Bhattad, and Aditi Jaitly Jadeja who brought perspectives from visual art, performance, community-based work, and curatorial practice.
Key themes:
· Structural inequality in the arts
· Representation and inclusion
· Empowerment through community-based art
· Navigating non-gender sensitized spaces
· The importance of micro-victories and mentorship
Audience feedback revealed a strong emotional and intellectual response to the conversation, with many calling it eye-opening and transformative.
20th Asian Women’s Film Festival (Mar 6–8, 2025) Venue and primary partners: India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi
Films screened: 65 films from 21 Asian countries
Other partners: National Film Development Corporation, French Institut India, INKO, Japan Foundation
Celebrating two decades of showcasing women’s voices in cinema, this landmark edition was a three-day celebration of artistic excellence, feminist storytelling, and cultural dialogue.
Highlights:
· Opening film: The Sharp Edge of Peace by Roya Sadat (Afghanistan)
· Closing film: A Night of Knowing Nothing by Payal Kapadia
· Curated packages such as A Room of My Own and Unsettled Reality, Tomorrow’s Imagination
· Screenings of IAWRT collaborative productions: Velvet Revolution and Displacement & Resilience
· Panels on Memory as Movement and archiving feminist histories
· An immersive exhibition showcasing feminist archives and storytelling through embroidery
· Masterclasses by industry leaders including Aparna Purohit and Akiko Ashizawa
· Homage to late IAWRT members Aruna Vasudev and Manjira Dutta
Conclusion
The first quarter of 2025 was a deeply fulfilling quarter for the IAWRT India Chapter, one that saw new partnerships forged, new filmmakers nurtured, and new stories brought into the spotlight. Through community-building workshops, critical conversations, and a landmark film festival, IAWRT continues to uphold its mission of amplifying women’s voices across media platforms.
