MUMBAI: The 23rd Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) announced the winners of their annual Jury and Audience Choice Awards for 2025. Winners were announced at the Closing Night Awards Ceremony at the Writers Guild Theater on May 10, 2025.
“On behalf of all of us at IFFLA, I offer my warmest congratulations to this year’s award winners. Your work moved, challenged, and inspired us. But beyond the accolades, we want to honor every filmmaker whose voice resonated through our screens. To us, every story shared here is a triumph and every artist, a winner,” said Artistic Director Anu Rangachar.
Esteemed auteurs and industry professionals voted to determine the IFFLA Jury Awards, which were given to films and filmmakers in feature and short categories.
The Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature was awarded to Humans in the Loop directed by Aranya Sahay. The jury stated, “Returning to her ancestral Oraon village with her children after her divorce, Nehma, an Adivasi woman, finds work as a 'data labeller,' training AI models to recognize objects in images and videos in the film Humans in the Loop. Aranya Sahay has crafted a film that is timely, imaginative, beautifully written and directed, and emotionally affecting. Its cultural specificity and interrogation of the ethics of AI, and the cheap, often female labor involved, should be a required viewing.”
Awarding Bhushaan Manoj and Suraaj Suman an Honorable Mention for Performance for Cactus Pears, the jury stated, “The Sundance Jury Award-winning film works due to the phenomenally layered and nuanced performances of Manoj and Suman. Taking moments of intimacy and melting the hearts of its audience is the true earmark of wonderfully crafted artistry that is fine-tuned with the direction of Rohan Parashuram Kanawade. Both actors give an unbridled dignity to Cactus Pears’ LGBTQ+ storyline by
executing their characters as human beings who long to love and be loved by each other, friends, and family. It’s a beautiful tribute to relationships regardless of the package it arrives in.”
Rima Das received a Jury Honorable Mention for Direction for Village Rockstars 2. The jury notes that “Rima Das’ Village Rockstars 2 fast-forwards seven years from the original. Dhunu is now in her late teens, still climbs trees, swims, and most importantly, dreams of continuing her childhood life as a guitarist in her rock band. As the responsibilities of young adulthood beckon, we watch Dhunu navigate a rocky road. Das’s directing work is so self-assured, deliberate, beautiful, and naturalistic that the viewer sometimes forgets we’re not witnessing an actual slice of life.”
The Features Jury members were:
● Rajshri Deshpande – Actress (Angry Indian Goddesses, Sexy Durga, Sacred Games) and activist.
● Priyanka Mattoo – Author (Bird Milk & Mosquito Bones), writer, and director.
● Carla Renata – Film critic, journalist, and host (a.k.a. The Curvy Critic).
The Grand Jury Prize for Best Short was awarded to Holy Curse, directed by Snigdha Kapoor. The jury stated, “Writer/Director Snigdha Kapoor offers a bold, nuanced, and unforgettable take on gender identity, grounding the story in the raw humanity of defying a world that deems one’s existence 'unholy.’ Melding comedy with heartfelt moments and unexpected choices, the short film radiates with charm. With an energetic style and a perspective that is both culturally specific and universal, Holy Curse promises the emergence of a new filmmaking talent.”
The Feast (Virundhu), directed by Rishi Chandna, was awarded an Honorable Mention for Cinematic Storytelling, and the jury added: “Set in a beautiful landscape beset by environmental and social changes, we were struck by the accomplished and immersive look of this short. Through its powerful cinematography, we were transported to another world of tastes, smells, and sights. With its texture and evocative imagery that appeals to the senses, we wish to give an honorable mention for visual
storytelling to The Feast.” Additionally, the short Extinction Story Origin Story, directed by Terrie Samundra, was granted an Honorable Mention for Artistic Direction. “This intimate and hand-made film impressed us with its conceptualization and execution of a cinematic vision. Shot on film, this short’s imaginative exploration of innocence and adolescence felt wholly original. The meticulous and creative direction allowed us to nostalgically peer into the minds and hearts of our young characters,” stated the jury.
Lastly, the short An Orphanage Of Memories, directed by Rayit Hashmat Qazi, was awarded an Honorable Mention for Emotional Storytelling. “We were so moved by this story of a woman grieving the death of her husband and trying to find meaning in caring for his seedlings in the garden of their Kashmiri home. Elegantly shot and anchored by a strong performance from its lead actress, this film moved beyond expected narratives to honor personal grief and emotional truth,” noted the jury.
The Shorts Jury members were:
● Maureen Bharoocha – Film and TV director (The Prank, Golden Arm, Grand Crew, Saved by the
Bell).
● Kausar Mohammed – Actress and writer (Sisters, Appendage, The Flash, 4400).
● Sudeep Sharma – Sundance Film Festival Programmer.
The 2025 Audience Choice Awards, voted on by IFFLA attendees, went to Rohan Parashuram Kanawade's feature Cactus Pears and Sunita Prasad's short Sleep Training.
Kiana Rawji's project, Adult Children, won the IFFLA Industry Days Launchpad: Pitch Competition 2025.
“We were honored to participate as judges in this contest, and we found ourselves deeply rooting for each one of these projects and their filmmakers. We debated extensively in trying to pick our winner - each project was one we wanted to see out in the world. The good news is that the gumption, drive, and determination that empowered these filmmakers to pitch so brilliantly in such a high-pressure situation will take them very far in their careers. We found Adult Children’s story intimate and compelling, and the pitch was cohesive and beautifully presented. Congratulations, Kiana, and to all of the filmmakers who pitched, and to everyone who submitted. Every new voice in our industry and art form is a win for us all,” said the jury.
The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) took place from Tuesday, May 6, 2025, to Saturday, May 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. This year’s lineup showcased a dynamic collection of South Asian stories from around the globe, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the U.S., the U.K., and Canada, along with international co-productions from France, Singapore, and Norway. This year, IFFLA featured 27 films, including seven narrative features, one documentary feature, 18 shorts, and a special two-episode screening of an anthology series. The festival included two world premieres, six North American premieres, three U.S. premieres, and 14 Los Angeles premieres, highlighting a diverse and exciting slate of new voices and perspectives.
Opening and Closing Night Galas took place at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills (135 S Doheny Drive), while all other screenings, Industry Days, and panels were held at the Landmark Theatres Sunset (8000 Sunset Blvd).
IFFLA 2025 is supported in part by NBC Universal, National Endowment for the Arts, the Joy of Sharing Foundation, Tarsadia Foundation, Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and additional sponsors.
For more information, visit www.indianfilmfestival.org. Follow IFFLA on Facebook (/indianfilmfestival), Instagram (@indianfilmfestival), and X (formerly Twitter) (@iffla).
For press images, click HERE.
A full list of winners is below:
GRAND JURY PRIZE FOR BEST FEATURE
● HUMANS IN THE LOOP by Aranya Sahay
FEATURE JURY HONORABLE MENTIONS
● CACTUS PEARS by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade (for Performance, to Bhushaan Manoj and
Suraaj Suman)
● VILLAGE ROCKSTARS 2 by Rima Das (for Direction)
GRAND JURY PRIZE FOR BEST SHORT
● HOLY CURSE by Snigdha Kapoor
SHORT JURY HONORABLE MENTIONS
● THE FEAST (Virundhu) by Rishi Chandna (for Cinematic Storytelling)
● EXTINCTION STORY ORIGIN STORY by Terrie Samundra (for Artistic Direction)
● AN ORPHANAGE OF MEMORIES by Rayit Hashmat Qazi (for Emotional Storytelling)
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE
● CACTUS PEARS by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST SHORT
● SLEEP TRAINING by Sunita Prasad
LAUNCHPAD: PITCH COMPETITION WINNER
● ADULT CHILDREN by Kiana Rawji
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