Waterfront Indie Film Festival Mumbai 2025: Versova’s Big Moment for Indie Cinema

Mumbai has a new festival, and this one isn’t about red carpets or paparazzi flashbulbs. From 2nd to 6th October 2025, the Waterfront Indie Film Festival (WIFF) Mumbai will take over Versova Social, Rangshila Theatre, and Silk Road Café in Aram Nagar — the “village of storytellers”.

For decades, Mumbai has been called the film capital of India. We at AltBollywood are proud to be tied up with the festival as it launches a new chapter for alternative storytelling in the city.

Curtain Raiser at NGMA: A Star-Studded Start

The festival kicks off with a Curtain Raiser on 25th September 2025 at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai, hosted by AVID Learning.

Titled “The Art of Independent Cinema: Curating for Change”, the evening will be moderated by actor Richa Chadda and will feature some of the biggest champions of indie cinema in India:

• Sudhir Mishra

  

• Shoojit Sircar

• Rajat Kapoor

• Bobby Bedi

• Deepa Gahlot

• Sridhar Rangayan
  

The discussion will be presented by Asad Lallji (CEO, AVID Learning & SVP, Essar Group) and Vinta Nanda (Executive Director WIFF Mumbai).

A Knowledge-Driven Festival

With Tuli Research Centre for India Studies (TRIS), led by Neville Tuli, as Knowledge & Education Partner, WIFF is as much about learning as it is about watching films.

Highlights include:

• Hemant Chaturvedi’s showcase of rare photographs of India’s single-screen theatres.

• A screening of Chayaankan, his film tracing the legacy of Indian cinematographers since the 1950s.

• Crossovers between cinema, art, and culture, all under one roof.

  

Origins, Vision & Leadership

WIFF was born out of conversations among filmmakers, writers, and cultural leaders who felt Mumbai needed a real space for alternative voices. Its name, Waterfront, stands for openness, flow, and connection — qualities that define both cinema and Versova itself.

The leadership team is a powerhouse:

• Vinta Nanda (Executive Director): “WIFF is not just a festival, it’s a movement. We want to create a space where stories that matter are heard, nurtured, and celebrated.”
  

  

  Deepa Gahlot (Festival Director): “The idea is to recreate the cinephilia that film societies generated in the 70s.”
  

  

  Saagar Gupta (Programming Director): “Independent cinema needs dedicated spaces to thrive in today’s OTT-dominated era.”
  

  

  Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri (Co-founder): “WIFF is about imagination, courage, and voices that dare to speak differently.”
  

  

  Avneesh Mishra (Co-founder): “For me, WIFF is a movement. It opens a window to powerful independent cinema from across the world.”
  

They are supported by an Advisory Board featuring Sandra de Castro Buffington, Anjali Monteiro, Bina Paul, Sridhar Rangayan, Swapnalekha Basak, and Joshy Joseph, plus an Executive Committee of cultural leaders like Deepa Bhalerao, Varshaa A Jainn, Rashmi Lamba, Pia Benegal, Dalton Christopher, and Nandita Puri.

Films & Festival Highlights

• Opening Film: Fearless Fathima (dir. Fasil Muhammed) – A woman’s life takes a dramatic turn after her husband refuses to buy her a new mattress.

  

• Closing Film: Humans in the Loop (dir. Aranya Sahay) – The story of an Oraon tribal woman balancing AI training work with reconnecting to her roots.

  

Curated Sections:

• North East Films – curated by Parthajit Baruah & Joshy Joseph

• Youth Films – curated by Kabeer Khurana

• Teen Films – curated by RV University, Bangalore

• Community Films – curated by Anjali Monteiro

• Micro Shorts – from the Illuminate Film Festival (USA)
  

National Award-winning highlights:

• Pushkara (Subhransu Das) – Best Odia Film, 71st National Awards

  

  
  

• Rapture (Dominic Megam Sangma) – Best Garo Film, premiered at Locarno

  

  
  

• Shyamchi Aai (Sujay Dahake) – based on reformer Sane Guruji’s autobiographical novel

  

In total, over 70 films will be screened across categories — Features, Documentaries, Shorts, and Experimental — along with workshops, masterclasses, networking addas, and panel discussions at Sathe’s Café, Versova Social, Maverick Studios, and Silk Road Café.

Why It Matters (and Why AltBollywood is Here)

For too long, Mumbai has lacked a serious indie platform. The 70s film society culture, when audiences queued up to watch Iranian, French, or Bengali films at packed halls, has faded.

WIFF wants to bring that cinephilia back. It’s not about box office or star power. It’s about the power of stories that break boundaries.

That’s exactly why AltBollywood has partnered with WIFF because we believe mainstream isn’t the only stream. Indie films deserve their spotlight, their community, and their legacy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. When and where is the Waterfront Indie Film Festival happening?

WIFF will be held from 2–6 October 2025 at Versova Social, Rangshila Theatre, and Silk Road Café in Aram Nagar, Mumbai.

2. Who is organizing WIFF Mumbai?

It is spearheaded by Vinta Nanda, Deepa Gahlot, Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri, and Avneesh Mishra, with support from an advisory and executive committee of India’s top cultural voices.

3. What kind of films will be screened?

Over 70 films including national award-winning features, regional films, documentaries, shorts, experimental cinema, and curated sections like Youth Films, Community Films, and North East Films.

4. Is this festival open to the public?

Yes! WIFF is for everyone — cinephiles, students, filmmakers, and even casual film lovers looking for alternatives to mainstream cinema.

5. What role does AltBollywood play at WIFF?

AltBollywood is an official partner of WIFF, bringing indie voices closer to audiences through digital storytelling, coverage, and cultural conversations.