Houston – The Indian Film Festival of Houston (IFFH) has been a hub for all things Indian culture for 16 years, showing Houston audiences there is more to Indian cinema than just Bollywood. With over 100 films screened and representation from more than 12 languages, the festival has become a platform for Indian films and filmmakers. In it’s 17th year, several groundbreaking films will be shown but in 2026, the festival will mark a new chapter -- global collaboration.
Founder and executive director behind the festival, Sutapa Ghosh, has big plans for the future. Speaking about the growth of the festival, she shared her vision of taking it to the international stage stating that next year, they’re not just focusing on India but looking beyond, including other countries’ food and music. Ghosh came up with the The tagline of ‘collaborate, create and deliver.’
Ghosh made the decision to expand emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusion especially in the film industry. What better place than Houston to kickstart that goal?
IFFH has become known for its ability to spark conversations around themes that may be hard to talk about. This year, the submissions from filmmakers reflect a deep engagement with current social, political, and economic situations in different countries.
Ghosh mentioned a unique submission from Bhutan, a country declared the happiest in the world. The film, “Agent of Happiness,” explores the idea of happiness and the country’s approach to measuring it.
Ghosh also spoke about the upcoming screening of “The Ancient”, a touching film that explores themes of memory, reconciliation, and Alzheimer’s disease. Ghosh’s mother is currently living with Alzheimer’s, and the film struck a personal chord with her.
The film, directed by Suman Ghosh, follows a couple returning to their ancestral home, grappling with their relationship and family history, as well as the physical and emotional challenges of Alzheimer’s. The lead actress, a major star in India, brings depth and empathy to the role, creating an experience that resonates with audiences far beyond the screen.
The IFFH continues to seek films that offer something special, often looking for works that engage with contemporary issues in a meaningful way, something that might come easier as they expand their horizons next year.
In addition to her work with the festival, Ghosh has earned recognition for her volunteering. She was recently named one of the “100 Most Creative People in Texas” and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Biden. Despite these accolades, Ghosh remains humble, viewing her work as a way to contribute and giveback to the community.
The 17th annual Indian Film Festival of Houston will take place at the Asia Society Texas on February 21-22
Festival Program
Friday, February 21, 2025, 4:45 pm
Agent of Happiness - Documentary Film
Director: Arun Bhattarai, Dorottya ZurboDuration
Primed to be the happiest country in the world, Bhutan invented the Gross National Happiness Index. As Amber embarks on a cross-country road trip with a colleague, Agent of Happiness reveals itself to be an ingenious, absorbing ethnographic portrait of a society reeling under the weight of its own loneliness.
Friday, February 21, 2025, 6:20 pm
Free as a Bird - Short Film
Director: Aditya Khude
Set in the bustling city of Mumbai, the story is about a lower-middle-class family living in a small one-room kitchen. Raj and Priya, who aspire to a more prosperous future, go through a humiliating incident on their anniversary at the beach, where they become entangled in a police raid.
Friday, February 21, 2025, 6:40
Entertainment by Moodafaruka and Reception
Mixing Flamenco, Middle Eastern, Spanish and Western motifs, Moodafaruka creates a tapestry of sound that is both familiar and new. The Global community is burgeoning into a multicultural, multicolored, multilingual village. Moodafaruka seeks to remind people of the common values we share, to honor our differences, and promote the celebration of life through music.
Friday, February 21, 2025, 7:45 pm
Q & A session
The Mehta Boys - Feature Film
Director: Boman Irani
The film attempts to explore the strange yet universal cross-wiring between fathers and sons. It’s a conflict of one of them trying to become a man while the other is losing every version of the man he once was. A father and son embark on an involuntary 48 hours odyssey, navigating clashing perspectives as they confront the intricate nuances of their strained relationship.
Saturday, February 22, 2025, 5:00 pm
Opening Remarks and Welcome Address
Saturday, February 22, 2025, 5:15 pm
Q & A session with Director Suman Ghosh
The Ancient (Puratawn) - Feature Film
Director: Suman Ghosh
Ritika and her husband Rajeev return to her ancestral house in West Bengal to celebrate her mother’s 80th birthday. The film deftly braids in questions of failing memory, cherishing the past, a fear of obsolescence and reconciliation into a haunting, moving story that is at its heart about burying the ghosts of the past in order to make peace with what has happened so that one can move on.
Saturday, February 22, 2025, 7:30 pm
Special Event
For more information about the festival and upcoming events, visit their website.