TIFF 2025: India To Send First-Ever Women-Led Delegation; Six Filmmakers Selected
Set to take place from September 4 to 9, TIFF 2025 will feature six projects helmed by Indian women in key creative roles.
India is set to stamp its presence at the Toronto International Film Festival 2025 (TIFF), where Women in Film (WIF) India—backed by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B)—has announced that it will send the country’s first-ever women-led delegation to the movie gala.
Set to take place from September 4 to 9, TIFF 2025 will feature six projects helmed by women in key creative roles. The initiative is facilitated by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), supported by Waves Bazaar, with WIF India leading the conceptualisation.
According to a report in Cinema Express, a nationwide contest was held to arrive at the selection process, with as many as
200 applications submitted within a week. The entries were from across India—including Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Manipur, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, and Chandigarh.
Of the 23 shortlisted projects, six filmmakers were chosen as winners. The list includes Arshaly Jose (A Dandelion’s Dream), acclaimed editor Deepa Bhatia (Rabbit Hole), KatyayaniKumar (Sons of The River), Madhumita Sundararaman (The Guest House), Paromita Dhar (Ulta), and Pramati Anand (A Late Autumn Dream).
The report stated that the final selection was made by a distinguished international jury of producers, cultural leaders, and industry experts "whose combined experience spans Academy Award–winning films, global film markets, and women’s advocacy in cinema."
Under this, WIF India, WIF LA, Academy Award-winner Guneet Monga Kapoor, and the jury will be providing continued mentorship to the makers to help champion women storytrellers from the country.
WIF said in a statement that the Ministry-backed programme, which provides international visibility, mentorship, curated networking, and pitching/dealmaking training, is "designed to bridge the gap in representation, while creating long-term pathways for Indian women filmmakers to access global." The delegation will be coordinated with Product of Culture (US), which previously partnered with WIF India for its Cannes showcase as well.