- Ahmedabad International Literature Festival celebrates 10 glorious years; unveils vision for next decade with arts as the soul of social evolution
- A key attraction will be the trailer launch of the Hindi feature film “Drop Out” by SERENE FILMS on Saturday, October 11 at 11:30 a.m
- The event will be held at the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Thaltej, Ahmedabad between 9:30 am and 7:30 pm on Saturday-Sunday
NE CULTURE BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, OCT 8
The landmark 10ᵗʰ edition of the Ahmedabad International Literature Festival (AILF) is set to captivate audiences on Saturday and Sunday-October 11–12, 2025, celebrating the creative confluence of text, thought, and screen under the theme “Literature & Cinema.”
Literature and cinema are two sides of the same coin
Founder and Festival Director Umashanker Yadav, filmmaker, writer, and entrepreneur, said the tenth anniversary marks not just a milestone but a movement.
“The journey of AILF mirrors the evolution of Gujarati and Indian creative consciousness. Literature and cinema are two sides of the same coin — both mirror society and shape it. In Gujarat, this bond has deep roots, and AILF aims to nurture that connection for generations to come,” he said.
Over the decade, AILF has emerged as one of India’s most inclusive art and cultural platforms, seamlessly blending youth with experience and regional voices with international perspectives. The festival, an initiative of the Ikon Education Foundation, has touched thousands of lives globally through literature, dialogue, and cultural exchange.
A Vision for the Next Decade
Former Additional Chief Secretary (Health) and AILF Director Manoj Aggarwal, IAS (Retd.), reflected on the festival’s 10-year journey and shared the new Vision Document for the coming decade.
“Arts are the backbone of any society. As AILF completes ten vibrant years, our vision for the next decade is to embed literature, cinema, and creative arts at the core of social consciousness and policy thinking. Culture must not only entertain but also enlighten — and AILF will continue to be a torchbearer of that idea,” he said.
Cinema as Catalyst for Change
Adding to the dialogue, Dr. Rajesh Chandwani, National Award-winning filmmaker and faculty at IIM Ahmedabad, will discuss his upcoming documentary on organ donation, a theme close to his heart.
“Cinema is the most powerful medium to create awareness and empathy. My recent film on organ donation demonstrates how storytelling can transform attitudes and save lives. In Gujarat, we have seen how socially conscious cinema can inspire real change,” he noted.
AI and the Future of Storytelling
The festival will also look at how technology is reshaping the creative industries. Vision Raval, Founder of Sahitya Manch, Vision Incorp., Media Hives, and an AI expert, underlined the growing role of artificial intelligence across all cinematic processes.
“AI is redefining the language of cinema — from scripting to editing to audience analytics. The fusion of artificial intelligence with artistic intelligence will open new horizons for filmmakers and writers alike. Mass communication departments of many universities have included AI in their curriculum for wannabe journos. AILF 2025 captures this spirit of innovation beautifully,” he said.
A Star-Studded Literary and Cinematic Line-Up
The two-day celebration will bring together a galaxy of distinguished guests including Gyanpeeth Awardee Raghuveer Chaudhary, Jamnadas “JD” Majethia, Mushtaq Khan, Pia Benegal, Abhishek Jain, Hiten Kumar, Jay Vasavada, Padmashri Tushar Shukla, Vinay Dave, Arvind Vegda, Snehal Chaudhary, Aneri Savla, and several acclaimed authors and poets.
Special Highlights
A key attraction will be the trailer launch of the Hindi feature film “Drop Out” by SERENE FILMS on Saturday, October 11 at 11:30 a.m., produced by Umashanker Yadav and directed by Omkar Pethkar, featuring Tanushka Sharma, Uday Singh, and Mushtaq Khan, among others.
The festival will host over 12 curated sessions and 7 international speakers from Afghanistan, Brazil, Uganda, Azerbaijan, Malawi, Madagascar, and Myanmar, weaving global dialogues around adaptation, translation, and creative expression.
Supported by Gujarat Tourism as Patron, GMDC as Silver Sponsor, Hotel Renaissance by Marriott as Hospitality Partner, Kalorex Group as School Partner, ICCR as Cultural Partner, Sahitya Manch as Literary Partner, Serene Publishers and Serene Films as Publishing and Cinema Partners respectively, and powered by Ikon Barcode Solutions Pvt. Ltd., the festival continues its mission of making Ahmedabad a global hub of literature and arts.
