LOS ANGELES (Diya TV) — The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) is back for its 23rd edition, bringing a fresh wave of bold storytelling and innovative cinema from South Asia and its global diaspora to Southern California. Running May 6–10, 2025, at Landmark Theatres Sunset and the WGA Theater, the five-day festival will spotlight 27 films—seven narrative features, one documentary, and 18 shorts—representing India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, the U.S., U.K., Canada, and international co-productions from France, Norway, and Singapore.

IFFLA opens with Bad Girl, a daring Tamil-language debut from Varsha Bharath. Produced by acclaimed director Vetrimaaran (Asuran) and presented by Anurag Kashyap (Gangs of Wasseypur), the coming-of-age drama explores a young woman’s unapologetic pursuit of autonomy. The film premiered in Rotterdam’s prestigious Tiger Competition and won a NETPAC Award. IFFLA closes with Little Jaffna by Lawrence Valin, a powerful portrait of Tamil immigrant life in Paris that premiered at the Venice Film Festival.

“Beyond individual highlights, this year’s lineup celebrates the rich diversity of South Asian cinema with a strong emphasis on female-driven narratives both in front of and behind the camera,” said Anu Rangachar, IFFLA’s Artistic Director, in a press statement.

The festival’s 2025 slate includes two world premieres, six North American premieres, three U.S. premieres, and 14 Los Angeles premieres. Among the most anticipated is Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears), a Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner. Directed by Rohan Kanawade, the film examines queer intimacy within India’s rigid social structures.

Raam Reddy’s The Fable makes its North American debut, starring Manoj Bajpayee as a landowner battling a mysterious blaze consuming his estate. Shot on 16mm, the film features a notable ensemble including Priyanka Bose and Tillotama Shome. Meanwhile, Pooja, Sir by Deepak Rauniyar (White Sun) brings a gripping Nepali police procedural to the lineup, centered on a female detective investigating the disappearance of two boys.

Documentary fans can look forward to A Fly on the Wall by Nilesh Maniyar and Shonali Bose, a moving chronicle of a man asserting control over his final moments. Another standout is Humans in the Loop, a short feature by Aranya Sahay examining AI ethics through the lens of a mother working in India’s digital gig economy. A panel on responsible technology follows the screening.

In a nod to rising formats, IFFLA will screen two episodes from DUI Shaw, a supernatural psychological drama by Bangladeshi creator Nuhash Humayun. The filmmaker, an IFFLA shorts alum, will also lead a masterclass on his career trajectory from Dhaka to Hollywood.

This year’s shorts program features 18 selections, including Moti, an absurdist COVID-era comedy by Yash Saraf; As Dusk Falls by Jaskirat Singh, which captures the bittersweet decision of a young Punjabi man preparing to leave for Canada; and Sleep Training by Brooklyn-based Sunita Prasad, a quiet meditation on motherhood and ambition. Other standouts include Tracker, a psychological thriller by Udit Khurana; Free as a Bird by Aditya Khude; and I’m Dead Right? starring Sakina Jaffrey.

Acclaimed titles on the festival circuit also make their way to IFFLA, including Am I The Skinniest Person You’ve Ever Seen? by Eisha Marjara (HotDocs, IDFA), bonVoyage pour monVoyage by Akshit Kumar (Student Academy Award winner), and Bunnyhood by Mansi Maheshwari (Sundance, Cannes).

In a major expansion, IFFLA’s Industry Day grows into a two-day forum. It will provide networking opportunities and professional development for South Asian filmmakers, capped by a $10,000 Pitch Competition Grant. The program aims to create deeper pathways into the American entertainment industry for South Asian creatives.

Founded in 2002, IFFLA has become Major U.S. platform for South Asian cinema and a cultural bridge between the subcontinent’s emerging talent and the Hollywood film industry. Diya TV has been a longtime media partner for the festivities.