MUMBAI: The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) is thrilled to announce the expansion of IFFLA Industry Days, a robust two-day forum set to take place on May 8 and May 9, 2025 at the Landmark Theatres Sunset in Los Angeles, CA. Passes are now available at indianfilmfestival.org.
IFFLA Industry Days fosters connections between South Asian film and TV creatives and industry leaders. Key executives from Neon, SAGIndie, Netflix, Temple Hill Entertainment, Orion Pictures, Film Independent, Jaya Entertainment, Gaumont Television, Macro, Color Creative, NBCUniversal, and more will participate in a series of IFFLA’s dynamic events, including the inaugural program titled IFFLA Connect, the Launchpad: Pitch Competition with a $10,000 award, panels and a masterclass.
“Following the tremendous success of last year’s inaugural Industry Day, the expanded Industry Days offers a vital, curated space for visionary creatives from South Asia and its diasporas to connect, engage with prominent industry leaders, forge and nurture meaningful relationships, and explore an eclectic slate of projects with universal appeal,” said Christina Marouda, Executive Director of IFFLA. “It’s a powerful reflection of how IFFLA has remained a cornerstone in Hollywood for over two decades, championing bold storytelling and emerging talent.”
A highlight of this year’s IFFLA Industry Days is the official launch of IFFLA Connect, a new initiative presented in collaboration with Cinévesture. This program will showcase a selection of South Asian film projects from India, Nepal, and Bangladesh under the banner CinéV-IFFLA, alongside a hand-picked slate of North American projects curated by IFFLA. Designed as a nexus for collaboration, IFFLA Connect links promising projects with prominent industry professionals, offering essential support in financing, production, casting, and beyond. The inaugural lineup of IFFLA Connect features both emerging voices and acclaimed filmmakers, including producer Vikramaditya Motwane alongside celebrated actress Radhika Apte, who makes her directorial debut with her project “Koyta,” director Nuhash Humayun’s “Moving Bangladesh,” Ravi Kapoor’s “Patel,” Deepak Rauniyar’s “Taste of my Dreams,” and many more.
“We’re delighted to introduce IFFLA Connect as part of this year’s Industry Days,” said Noopur Sinha, Festival Producer. “This initiative is about getting these 10 powerful, South Asian-led projects the access and backing they need from Hollywood industry partners to bring vital and diverse stories to the mainstream.”
The highly anticipated Launchpad: Pitch Competition returns. The competition will give five finalists a unique opportunity to present their projects in development to a diverse panel of industry executives and a live audience. The pre-selected projects will be presented by their creative teams and receive immediate feedback from the panelists, who will award one of the projects a $10,000 development grant.
IFFLA Industry Days features two timely panels - The Human Loop: Storytelling and Responsibility in the Age of AI and Global Vision: Specialty Studios and the Future of International Storytelling. The Human Loop will discuss the responsible use of technology in storytelling, featuring voices from the film and AI industries. Topics will include ethics, automation, and the invisible labor behind artificial intelligence. The Global Vision panel brings together influential professionals from the independent and specialty studio space to discuss how their companies are navigating the evolving challenges of today’s film industry. As the US market undergoes significant shifts, the conversation will explore the growing importance of international stories and voices in shaping the future of cinema.
As part of this panel slate, IFFLA will also spotlight the acclaimed stage adaptation of Life of Pi, now on its first U.S. tour. This panel explores the story’s journey from novel to Broadway, focusing on cultural impact, representation, and the artistry behind the production.
Additionally, a special masterclass titled “From Dhaka to Hollywood: The Genre-Bending World of Nuhash Humayun” will highlight one of the most exciting voices to emerge from South Asia’s new wave of filmmakers. In this masterclass, Nuhash Humayun (Moshari) will discuss the challenges of telling bold, local stories that resonate globally, the mechanics of working across industries and geographies, and what it means to make space for South Asian horror in the global film conversation.
Passes to access IFFLA Industry Days are now available. The general public can purchase the Industry All-Access Pass ($220) for admission to all festival screenings, galas, and Industry Days programming. For those only interested in Industry Days programming, the Industry Days Pass ($80) provides access to the masterclass, panels, pitch competition final, networking mixers, and any screenings attached to the panels or masterclass.
IFFLA also announced the 2025 Feature Film and Short Film Jury.
Feature Jury:
● Rajshri Deshpande – Acclaimed Indian actress known for Angry Indian Goddesses, Sexy Durga, BBC One’s McMafia, and Netflix’s Sacred Games and The Fame Game.
● Priyanka Mattoo – Author of the upcoming memoir Bird Milk & Mosquito Bones (Knopf, June 2024) and writer-director adapting her short The Homestay into a feature for Likely Story.
●Carla Renata – Film critic and journalist (a.k.a. The Curvy Critic), with bylines in Variety, The Wrap, The Cherry Picks, RogerEbert.com, and more.
Shorts Jury
● Maureen Bharoocha – Film and TV director (The Prank, Golden Arm, Grand Crew, Saved by the Bell), known for blending genres and telling stories that bridge cultures.
● Kausar Mohammed – Actress and writer known for Sisters, Hulu’s Appendage, and The CW’s The Flash and 4400.
● Sudeep Sharma – Sundance Film Festival Programmer specializing in documentary features.
Please find the jury pictures here
Please find details on the Industry Days lineup in the Annexure
For more information and to secure a pass, please visit indianfilmfestival.org.
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