- A special section on video art, featuring the works of Mithu Sen, Gigi Scaria, Riyas Komu, Sumedh Rajendran, and Ramith Kunhimangalam was also organised
- A panel discussion featuring Sumanth Bhat, Jithin Isaac Thomas, Nithyan Martin, and Himadri Mahesh was also organised
- Subhadra Mahajan, whose film Second Chance (2024) was screened as part of the festival, engaged in an insightful discussion on filmmaking with Srijitha Cheruvupally, a student pursuing a Master’s in Society and Culture at IITGN
NE EDUCATION BUREAU
GANDHINAGAR, APR 2
The Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) concluded the three-day Art@IITGN film festival on March 31, 2025. Held in collaboration with MUBI and Alliance Francaise, Ahmedabad, the festival featured a diverse lineup of global cinema, independent Indian features, French New Wave, and critically acclaimed short films. A special section on video art, featuring the works of Mithu Sen, Gigi Scaria, Riyas Komu, Sumedh Rajendran, and Ramith Kunhimangalam was also organised, drawing the attention of students, scholars, and practitioners alike.
The festival brought together participants from various parts of Gujarat, including Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, and Gandhinagar. “The motto of this festival was to cultivate an understanding of the arts by exposing our students to different kinds of cinema. While we were pleased to see many of our students volunteer for the festival, what made us happier was the participation we received from the various other universities in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. I hope we can turn this into an even bigger event in the years to come,” said Prof Jaison Manjaly, Jasubhai Memorial Chair Professor, Humanities and Social Sciences (Jointly with Cognitive and Brain Sciences department), IITGN, who served as the Festival Director.
Don Chacko Palathara, a renowned filmmaker and Artist-in-Residence, Humanities and Social Sciences, IITGN, programmed the festival, inviting filmmakers and creative professionals nationwide.
Some of the key highlights included masterclasses on directing actors by Pushpendra Singh, and on cinematography by Tojo Xavier. A panel discussion featuring Sumanth Bhat, Jithin Isaac Thomas, Nithyan Martin, and Himadri Mahesh was also organised. Additionally, Subhadra Mahajan, whose film Second Chance (2024) was screened as part of the festival, engaged in an insightful discussion on filmmaking with Srijitha Cheruvupally, a student pursuing a Master’s in Society and Culture at IITGN. All the interactive sessions invited thoughtful reflections on cinema, both as theory and practice.
The film screenings were hosted across three locations on the IITGN campus: the Jibaben Patel (Kanisa) Memorial Auditorium, Academic Block 10/103, and the newly established PC (Panchangana). In collaboration with MUBI, the festival also offered a special benefit to university students nationwide, providing them a 60-day free subscription to the streaming platform.
