The festival continues to spotlight British Asian filmmaking.
The London and Birmingham Indian Film Festival is back this July, bringing gripping dramas, restored epics and emerging South Asian talent to the screen.
From powerful rural narratives to high-octane gangster thrillers, this year’s programme offers a diverse and engaging selection of stories from India and its diaspora.
Running from 16 to 23 July in London and 17 to 23 July in Birmingham, the festival marks its 16th edition as the UK and Europe’s largest showcase of Indian cinema.
Screenings will be held at BFI Southbank, BFI IMAX and the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC).
High-Stakes Crime Drama Opens the Festival
Opening this year’s programme is Little Jaffna, a bold and fast-paced gangster film set in the tough suburbs of Paris.
A Tamil-speaking rookie police officer goes undercover to expose the violent underworld of rival gangs.
Directed by Lawrence Valin, the film combines urban realism with stylised action, drawing comparisons to La Haine and Gangs of Wasseypur for its gritty social insight and dramatic intensity.
Peter Brook’s ‘Mahabharata’ Gets a New Life
In honour of the late British theatre visionary Peter Brook’s centenary, the festival’s Central Gala presents a newly restored version of his acclaimed adaptation of The Mahabharata.
This monumental retelling of the Indian epic explores themes of love, war and human morality.
The screening will take place at BFI IMAX, offering an immersive experience of what has been described as one of the most ambitious theatrical stories ever committed to film.
Members of the original cast are expected to attend.
Rural India in Focus with Rima Das
Celebrated director Rima Das returns with Village Rockstars 2, a moving portrait of a teenage girl navigating life in flood-prone Assam.
As she clings to her dream of starting a rock band, she must confront the pressures of tradition, poverty and environmental instability.
With a documentary-like lens and powerful performances, the film offers an honest reflection of adolescence in rural India.
Other films also turn the lens toward less-seen corners of the subcontinent.
Boong follows a rebellious schoolboy from Manipur who risks everything to find his estranged father in Myanmar.
Pyre, set in the Himalayan mountains, tells the story of a couple who remain defiantly in love while adapting to the changing social fabric around them.
Both films are deeply rooted in place, offering emotional and cinematic richness.
Uplifting Brit-Asian Stories and Industry Progress
Alongside its international programme, the festival continues to spotlight British Asian filmmaking.
The Brit-Asian Shorts showcase returns with a vibrant selection of new work reflecting the complexity of diasporic life.
From generational struggles to identity exploration, the short films capture the unique voices of South Asian creatives in the UK.
Further supporting homegrown talent, the festival introduces a new industry event in partnership with RIFCO Theatre.
This initiative will focus on boosting representation, encouraging more British South Asians to enter the film world and explore co-production opportunities.
With more films and events to be announced soon, the 2025 London and Birmingham Indian Film Festival is set to offer another unforgettable celebration of South Asian cinema.
By presenting bold new voices alongside legendary works, the festival continues to reflect the evolving, global nature of Indian storytelling today.
Loading ...