Geeta Gandbhir to Shine at North America’s Oldest Nonfiction Film Festival

Celebrated Indian-origin filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir is set to receive the prestigious Impact Award at the 34th edition of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (HSDFF), the longest-running nonfiction cinema fest in North America. The festival, held annually in Arkansas, will begin on October 10, 2025, and will feature Gandbhir’s latest work as a centerpiece.

 

Key Highlights of the Recognition

 

Gandbhir is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning director known for her powerful storytelling and social justice themes

 

She will be honoured for her contributions to documentary filmmaking and her commitment to amplifying marginalized voices

 

Her latest film, The Perfect Neighbor, will premiere on Netflix on October 17 and will be screened at HSDFF as part of the tribute

 

The documentary explores the tragic killing of Ajike “AJ” Owens and uses police bodycam footage to unravel community trauma and resilience

 

Gandbhir began her career under the mentorship of Spike Lee and Sam Pollard, working on films like Malcolm X and When the Levees Broke

 

Career and Cultural Impact

 

Raised in Boston, Gandbhir studied at Harvard and transitioned from narrative to documentary cinema over the past decade

 

Her body of work includes Katrina: Come Hell and High Water, The Devil Is Busy, and How We Get Free

 

The Impact Award celebrates her role in shaping contemporary nonfiction cinema and her dedication to truth-telling through film

 

Sources: Financial Express, Deadline, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival