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The Delhi chapter of the 13th edition of the Jagran Film Festival (JFF) 2025 has successfully wrapped up after four days of vibrant cinematic festivities at the Siri Fort Auditorium. This chapter marked a grand celebration of storytelling, innovative filmmaking, and cultural dialogues, positioning JFF as one of the world's largest traveling film festivals. Over four days from September 4 to 7, the festival transformed Delhi into a bustling hub for filmmakers, cinephiles, actors, and audiences, blending Indian and international cinema with enriching masterclasses and memorable premieres.
Key Highlights of the Festival
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The festival inaugurated with the JFF Little Lights segment dedicated to children, setting a warm, inclusive tone for all age groups.
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The world premiere of the film Inspector Zende played a star-studded opening, featuring actors Manoj Bajpayee, Jim Sarbh, and Chinmay Mandlekar, adding glamour and excitement to the event.
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Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw officially inaugurated the festival, underscoring its role as a powerful platform for emerging filmmakers, especially those hailing from smaller cities across India.
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Across the next three days, the festival showcased a dynamic mix of premieres, panel discussions, tributes, and interactive sessions with luminaries of cinema.
Festival Highlights: A Daywise Experience
Day 1: Opening and Children's Cinematic Joy
The grand opening included the JFF Little Lights program designed for young audiences, followed by the world premiere of Inspector Zende. The presence of renowned actors and the visit by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the festival’s commitment to nurturing cinematic talent nationwide.
The Delhi chapter of the 13th edition of the Jagran Film Festival (JFF) 2025 has successfully wrapped up after four days of vibrant cinematic festivities at the Siri Fort Auditorium. This chapter marked a grand celebration of storytelling, innovative filmmaking, and cultural dialogues, positioning JFF as one of the world's largest traveling film festivals. Over four days from September 4 to 7, the festival transformed Delhi into a bustling hub for filmmakers, cinephiles, actors, and audiences, blending Indian and international cinema with enriching masterclasses and memorable premieres.
Key Highlights of the Festival
The festival inaugurated with the JFF Little Lights segment dedicated to children, setting a warm, inclusive tone for all age groups.
The world premiere of the film Inspector Zende played a star-studded opening, featuring actors Manoj Bajpayee, Jim Sarbh, and Chinmay Mandlekar, adding glamour and excitement to the event.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw officially inaugurated the festival, underscoring its role as a powerful platform for emerging filmmakers, especially those hailing from smaller cities across India.
Across the next three days, the festival showcased a dynamic mix of premieres, panel discussions, tributes, and interactive sessions with luminaries of cinema.
Festival Highlights: A Daywise Experience
Day 1: Opening and Children's Cinematic Joy
The grand opening included the JFF Little Lights program designed for young audiences, followed by the world premiere of Inspector Zende. The presence of renowned actors and the visit by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the festival’s commitment to nurturing cinematic talent nationwide.
Day 2: Innovation and Storytelling Futures
This day spotlighted the intersection of technology and cinema with the premiere of Kiran Rao’s Humans in the Loop and a panel discussing the role of artificial intelligence in storytelling. A heartfelt tribute to legendary filmmaker Guru Dutt, delivered by R. Balki, offered a nostalgic yet inspirational moment. Casting director Mukesh Chhabra’s live audition session engaged audiences with lively participation.
Day 3: Emotional Depth and Powerful Dialogues
The festival took an emotional turn with a moving session anchored by writer Ankur Suman from Tanvi The Great, evoking tears and introspection among attendees. Engaging conversations with actors Jaideep Ahlawat, Rajat Kapoor, and filmmaker Inayat Verma centered on storytelling’s emotional power. Rajat Kapoor’s film Putul was a standout, leaving a lasting impact on viewers.
Day 4: Iconic Milestones and Memorable Premieres
The finale celebrated cinematic milestones including 50 years of the iconic film Sholay. The premiere of Love in Vietnam starring Shantanu Maheshwari and Avneet Kaur, along with masterclasses by casting director Shruti Mahajan, enriched the day. Notable sessions with celebrities Kajol, Umesh Bist, Divya Khosla Kumar, and Umesh Shukla provided deep insight into upcoming projects. The chapter closed with back-to-back premieres of Ek Chatur Naar and the French drama Valensole 1965, leaving audiences inspired and exhilarated.
Supporting Indian and Global Cinema Voices
The festival also spotlighted independent filmmakers such as Devyani Anant with Bicycle Days and Mayur Popat with Yun, Hum Mile, underlining JFF’s commitment to promoting new voices in cinema. Technical masterclasses on VFX, AI, and virtual production led by experts like Pradeep Sawant and Ashish Ranjan offered a cutting-edge look into filmmaking’s future.
Looking Ahead: The Journey Continues
With the successful culmination of the Delhi chapter, the Jagran Film Festival 2025 now moves to Kanpur and Lucknow from September 19 to 21. The festival’s mission to democratize cinema, foster storytelling across diverse Indian geographies, and celebrate powerful narratives continues as it tours 14 cities in 8 states, culminating in a grand finale in Mumbai.
This chapter of the Jagran Film Festival showcased not just films but celebrated cinema as a cultural bridge, promoting artistic collaboration, industry innovation, and heartfelt storytelling to audiences across generations.
Day 2:This day spotlighted the intersection of technology and cinema with the premiere of Kiran Rao’s Humans in the Loop and a panel discussing the role of artificial intelligence in storytelling. A heartfelt tribute to legendary filmmaker Guru Dutt, delivered by R. Balki, offered a nostalgic yet inspirational moment. Casting director Mukesh Chhabra’s live audition session engaged audiences with lively participation.
Day 3: Emotional Depth and Powerful Dialogues
The festival took an emotional turn with a moving session anchored by writer Ankur Suman from Tanvi The Great, evoking tears and introspection among attendees. Engaging conversations with actors Jaideep Ahlawat, Rajat Kapoor, and filmmaker Inayat Verma centered on storytelling’s emotional power. Rajat Kapoor’s film Putul was a standout, leaving a lasting impact on viewers.
Day 4: Iconic Milestones and Memorable Premieres
The finale celebrated cinematic milestones including 50 years of the iconic film Sholay. The premiere of Love in Vietnam starring Shantanu Maheshwari and Avneet Kaur, along with masterclasses by casting director Shruti Mahajan, enriched the day. Notable sessions with celebrities Kajol, Umesh Bist, Divya Khosla Kumar, and Umesh Shukla provided deep insight into upcoming projects. The chapter closed with back-to-back premieres of Ek Chatur Naar and the French drama Valensole 1965, leaving audiences inspired and exhilarated.
Supporting Indian and Global Cinema Voices
The festival also spotlighted independent filmmakers such as Devyani Anant with Bicycle Days and Mayur Popat with Yun, Hum Mile, underlining JFF’s commitment to promoting new voices in cinema. Technical masterclasses on VFX, AI, and virtual production led by experts like Pradeep Sawant and Ashish Ranjan offered a cutting-edge look into filmmaking’s future.
Looking Ahead: The Journey Continues
With the successful culmination of the Delhi chapter, the Jagran Film Festival 2025 now moves to Kanpur and Lucknow from September 19 to 21. The festival’s mission to democratize cinema, foster storytelling across diverse Indian geographies, and celebrate powerful narratives continues as it tours 14 cities in 8 states, culminating in a grand finale in Mumbai.
This chapter of the Jagran Film Festival showcased not just films but celebrated cinema as a cultural bridge, promoting artistic collaboration, industry innovation, and heartfelt storytelling to audiences across generations.
Source: UNI India, Bollyy.com, Jagran Josh, Jagran.com
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