Women at IFFI Highlight India's Indie Cinema Edge

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 25 November 2025

• At IFFI, women innovators underscore strategic role of indie filmmaking in shaping global narratives
• The session brought together four influential voices from the industry
•  Ministry of Information and Broadcasting emphasized mentoring within the collective and applauded women cinematographers at IFFI

At the 56^th IFFI, Day 4’s headline session, ‘A Global India Through Independent Cinema, A Women’s Panel’ brought together influential voices to explore India’s expanding global footprints through independent cinema. Industry leader including Rajni Basumatary, Fowzia Fathima, Rachel Griffiths, and Meenakshi Jayan, emphasized how independent cinema benefits from nuanced storytelling, a growing professional network of women cinematographers, and sustainable work-life strategies.

According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the discussion showcased women’s expanding role in independent film, beginning with empathy as a core strength.  The panel reviewed advances in representation, with Rachel noting more women in cinematography and production, leading to rising female leadership and greater visibility in the industry. Fowzia outlined the Collective’s rise to nearly 200 members. The Ministry’s release also noted her recognition of standout talent at IFFI, including Sharma’s work in Vimukti and Ghangrekar’s in Shape of Momo.

Meenakshi highlighted Kerala’s state-backed funding program for women filmmakers, noting that her film Victoria emerged from this initiative. The panel also drew attention to work-life integration and discussed navigating the industry while raising their families and proposing flexible scheduling models.

In discussing sustainability, Rachel stressed that filmmakers should invest in stories built to resonate with the right audience segments. As the session wrapped up, recommendations included Dangal (Rachel), The Power of the Dog (Fowzia), Article 15 and Eye in the Sky (Rajni), and Shiva Baby (Meenakshi), who also cheerfully suggested her own Victoria.