Celebrating Independent Cinema at the Heart of Mumbai

2nd – 6th October 2025 | Rangshila Theatre, Versova

Where Stories Find Their Shore

Welcome to the Waterfront Indie Film Festival (WIFF) Mumbai, a new wave in Indian cinema. Set in the vibrant cultural hub of Aram Nagar, Versova, WIFF brings together filmmakers, storytellers, and audiences to celebrate independent voices from India and across the world. With film screenings, exclusive Applause Entertainment panels, workshops, performances, and a buzzing film market, WIFF is more than a festival – it’s a movement to spotlight authentic storytelling and cultural exchange.

Waterfront Indie Film Festival (WIFF), debuting from October 2nd to 6th, 2025, is India’s first truly hyperlocal, ground-up celebration of independent cinema and storytelling. Located in Aram Nagar, Versova, Mumbai—India’s very own “cinema village”—WIFF lives and breathes where cinema is actually made. From the vibrant Rangshila Theatre (with three auditoriums), which is home to the festival, to Sathe’s Café, to the Silk Road and Versova Social, and within a 3km radius teeming with micro-theatres, studios, networks, casting hubs, rehearsal spaces, and creative cafés, WIFF will activate this unique ecosystem for three days of discovery and dialogue.

INTRODUCING WIFF – WHERE CINEMA COMES HOME

Why WIFF, Why Now?

Independent cinema thrives on courage and authenticity. WIFF Mumbai was born out of a passion to create a platform for stories that matter, amplify diverse voices, and strengthen India’s position in the global indie movement.

Located in Aram Nagar, home to 75% of the entertainment industry, and hosted at Rangshila Theatre (with three auditoriums), WIFF is uniquely positioned to connect filmmakers with industry leaders, emerging talent, and a dynamic audience.

WIFF is India’s answer to Coke Studio—but for cinema.

Just as Coke Studio mainstreamed regional music, WIFF will:

Spotlight raw, powerful filmmaking from untapped regions
Support creators through training, exposure, and networking
Offer content to the world via digital, social, and curated screenings
Inspire a generation to create with what they have—and tell stories that matter

From village to Vimeo. From rooftops to reels. From community to global consciousness.

FROM GRASSROOTS TO GLOBAL

FESTIVAL PROGRAM

CURTAIN RAISER 25TH SEPTEMBER 2025

The festival begins with a curtain raiser hosted by AVID Learning at NGMA, Mumbai, on 25th September 2025:

The Art of Independent Cinema: Curating for Change

Moderator: Richa Chadda
Speakers: Sudhir Mishra, Bobby Bedi, Shoojit Sircar, Rajat Kapoor, Deepa Gahlot, Sridhar Rangayan

This powerful conversation stresses WIFF’s commitment to nurturing indie cinema as a catalyst for cultural and social change.

PARTNERS

These high-impact sessions bring together leading filmmakers, producers, and thinkers to shape the future of independent storytelling.

The Outbreak of the Breakout Stars

Moderator: Shravan Shah
Speakers: Pratik Gandhi | Priya Bapat | Amit Sial | Surveen Chawla | Shweta Basu Prasad

The Directors’ Cut (redefining Indian storytelling)

Moderator: Shravan Shah
Speakers: Hansal Mehta | Vishal Furia | Rohan Sippy | Tushar Hiranandani

Writers Shaping the New India

Moderator: Shravan Shah
Speakers: Ananhata Menon | Adhir Bhat | Karan Sharma | Purva Naresh | Rahul Ved Prakash

COLLABORATORS

WORKSHOPS

PRODUCING THE FUTURE

Participants: Rashmi Lamba | Maneck Dastur | Jamshed Mistry | Gayathiri Guliani | Arfi Lamba

Why Co-Productions & Co-Ventures Are Here to Stay

Presented by the Indo-Canadian Business Chamber and moderated by Rashmi Lamba, this masterclass unpacks the opportunities of international co-productions. Producers, legal experts, and veterans reveal how to access new markets, share resources, and blend diverse perspectives. Gain insider knowledge on business models, creative strategies, and practical pathways to position your work on a truly global stage.

CO-CURATORS

MASTERCLASS WITH ANUPAMA MANDLOI

Participants: Aryana Sahay | Poorvi Bhat | Miriam | Miriam Chandy Menacherry | Kashmira Patil

Storytelling that etches lasting change

Step into a masterclass with Anupama Mandloi on how cinema can move beyond entertainment to inspire change. Learn to weave social resonance into your filmmaking, gain clarity in storytelling, and create films that leave lasting impressions on hearts and minds. This session is about making stories matter, not just making movies.

CO-CURATORS

MASTERCLASS WITH SANDRA DE CASTRO BUFFINGTON

Participants: Sandra de Castro Buffington | Dr Piyush Roy | Brahmanand Singh | Barnali Ray Shukla

WEAVING CONSCIOUSNESS AND PURPOSE INTO NARRATIVES

Global catalyst Sandra de Castro Buffington leads a transformative workshop on storytelling that sparks empathy, inclusivity, and social change. Expect practical tools and inspiring conversations on how filmmakers can craft stories that shift culture and heal communities. Discover how to awaken awareness through cinema that doesn’t just live on screen but in people’s hearts.

CO-CURATORS

OPENING & CLOSING FILMS

ADDAS & DIALOGUE

Where Cinema Meets Conversation

Storytelling Across Mediums: From Advertising to Cinema with Prahlad Kakkar, Suchitra Krishnamoorty and Rajesh Mapuskar. Prahlad Kakkar’s advertising legacy, Suchitra’s journey in music/acting, and Rajesh Mapuskar’s work as a filmmaker together highlight how storytelling adapts across industries.
A separate panel with Jaaved Jaaferi on “The Many Faces of Jaaved Jaaferi: Comedy, Commentary and Cinema.

PRIME

FOUNDERS

WIFF Mumbai is the creation of a group of passionate film professionals committed to giving independent cinema its rightful place in Mumbai’s cultural landscape.

Meet the WIFF 2025 Juries

The WIFF 2025 juries bring together acclaimed filmmakers, writers, scholars, and cultural leaders from India and beyond, uniting diverse perspectives to celebrate excellence and honor innovation in independent cinema.

Fiction Films Jury

The Fiction Jury comprises acclaimed filmmakers, writers, and actors dedicated to honoring powerful storytelling, artistic innovation, and cinematic excellence.

Documentary & Experimental Films Jury

This jury unites visionary filmmakers and scholars committed to celebrating documentaries and experimental works that challenge form, perspective, and convention.

Fiction Shorts Jury

The Fiction Shorts Jury champions emerging voices, recognizing innovative storytelling, fresh perspectives, and creative excellence in short-format films from India and beyond.

ADVISORY BOARD

WIFF's Advisory Board comprises distinguished voices in cinema, literature, and culture who provide direction and wisdom to the festival's long-term vision.