20 Films In Dallas

Five years after its inaugural edition, Indic Film Utsav returned to Dallas for its sixth edition, held from November 7–9, 2025, at Galaxy Theatres @ Grandscape, The Colony, Texas. The festival continued its celebration of cinema rooted in the cultural textures of India and neighbouring regions, with stories exploring resilience, empathy and the human experience.

The festival received more than 1,400 submissions and curated a programme of 20 feature films, shorts and documentaries. The selection represented ten languages: English, Hindi, Marathi, Manipuri, Telugu, Kannada, Konkani, Nepali, Malayalam and Bengali. All films were presented with English subtitles.

The festival opened on November 7 with the Dallas Premiere of American Warrior, directed by Gustavo Martin Benites. Set in the world of mixed martial arts, the film follows an Indian American protagonist, played by Vishy Ayyar, as he confronts a buried past.

The Showcase Documentary was Caste Gate – The Untold Story, directed by Vikram Mishra, which received its North American Premiere at the festival. The film examines experiences of Hinduphobia in the US corporate environment.

The festival closed with 6A Akash Ganga, directed by three-time National Award winner Nirmal Chander. The film explores the life and legacy of legendary classical musician Annapurna Devi, whose music attracted the attention of artists including George Harrison.

Across the 20-film programme, audiences encountered stories spanning different periods, communities and human experiences. Ahana – The Light Within follows a journey of liberation in a Bengali setting; the Nepali film Jaar transports viewers to the early nineteenth century; Marathi film 87 Rupees Ink Pen explores childhood; and Rhythm of Dammam, in Konkani and Kannada, examines intergenerational trauma within an ancient community.

Beyond the screenings, filmmaker Q&As and networking events gave audiences opportunities to engage directly with the people behind the films and encouraged connections across the independent film community.

The sixth edition reaffirmed Indic Film Utsav’s identity as the Festival of Positive Cinema—a platform for stories that engage with culture, human dignity, resilience and hope, bringing distinctive voices from the Indic world to audiences in Dallas.