The 6th Indic Film Utsav Concludes in a spectacular success!

The Center for Indic Films proudly concluded the 6th Indic Film Utsav, held from November 7–9, 2025 at the Galaxy Theater @ Grandscape in Dallas, with an inspiring celebration of Positive Cinema — stories that uplift, enlighten, and celebrate the human spirit. Marking its first year as a fully theatrical event, the festival transformed Dallas into a vibrant gathering space for filmmakers, audiences, artists, and cultural thinkers united by the power of meaningful storytelling.

Over three immersive days, the festival showcased feature films, documentaries, short films, and ultrashorts from across the world, reflecting diverse voices rooted in Indic values while resonating with universal human emotions.

“Indic Film Utsav is more than a film festival — it’s a movement celebrating stories that affirm life and human dignity,” said Danji Thotapalli, Festival Director. “Each of these films, whether chosen by our esteemed jury or embraced by our audiences, reflects courage, compassion, and creativity. We are deeply proud to see the Indic spirit of storytelling resonate so powerfully across the world.”

The festival’s Jury Awards honored exceptional cinematic achievement:

• Best Feature Film: Jaar(Nepali) — Directed by Phurba Tshering Lama
• Best Documentary: Caste Gate – The Untold Story(English) — Directed by Vikram Mishra
• Best Short Film: Bhamakalapam(Telugu) — Directed by Likhitha Krishna
• Best Ultrashort Film: Geetha(Telugu) — Directed by Ashik Shaik
• Special Jury Mention (Feature): 87 Rupees Ink Pen(Marathi) — Directed by Ravi Nimbalkar

Audience Choice Awards celebrated films that deeply connected with festival attendees:

• Best Feature: Ahana – The Light Within(Bengali) — Directed by Promita Bhowmik
• Best Documentary: Devi – A Woven History(Hindi) — Directed by Manas Holkar
• Best Short: Cowboys and Hindus(English) — Directed by Tejal Desai
• Best Ultrashort: Gratitude(English) — Directed by Ram Komanduri

The festival opened with American Warrior, with lead actor Vish Ayyar engaging audiences throughout all three days of the event. The closing night featured 6A Akash Ganga, followed by a memorable Q&A session with director Nirmal Chander.

The esteemed Jury Board reflected a rich blend of artistic, cinematic, and curatorial excellence. The panel included Gowri Sharma, Chair of the Dallas Museum of Art and a passionate cinephile known for her strong visual arts perspective; Raj Rachakonda, acclaimed Dallas-based filmmaker recognized for socially rooted storytelling and successful theatrical releases; and Kshitiz Rai, Co-founder of the Varanasi-based storytelling collective Prachyam, which uniquely blends art, film, and technology.

The success of the 6th Indic Film Utsav was made possible through the support of filmmakers, volunteers, community organizations, presenting partners, sponsors, and audiences who came together to celebrate meaningful cinema and cultural connection.

As the festival continues to grow, Indic Film Utsav remains committed to its mission as the Festival of Positive Cinema — creating a platform for stories that inspire hope, reflection, empathy, and human connection across borders and cultures.