Film program: 18th January 2026 – 25th January 2026

CRIPA warmly welcomes the community to the AVFF ‘26 screenings. Doors open 15 minutes before showtime. For everyone’s enjoyment, kindly avoid crossing in front of the screen or using mobile phones when lights are off. Food and beverages are not permitted inside the hall.

Sunday 18 January, 2026

  • 19:00 | Goodbye Julia (Sudan, 2023, Writer-Dir. Mohamed Kordofani, Feature, 120min, Arabic w/ English subtitles, NR R) Wracked by guilt after covering up a murder, Mona – a northern Sudanese retired singer in a tense marriage – tries to make amends by taking in the deceased’s southern Sudanese widow, Julia, and her son, Daniel, into her home. Awarded at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival in France.
  • 21:00 | The Owl-Eyed Guardian And The Banyan Dream (India, 2024, Writer-Dir. Alessandra Silver, Fiction, 59min, Tamil-English w/ English subtitles, NR G) This visually captivating and deeply spiritual film sheds light on the untold story of Andhayee, the enigmatic guardian of Auroville’s origins.
  • 21:59 | Anything Or Everything Could Be Theatre (India, 2025, Writer-Editor-Camera-Dir. Divya Mani, Documentary, 22min, English, NR G) In the coastal serenity of Auroville, the 2025 Adishakti Theatre Festival unfolds as a celebration of performance, spirit, and human connection.

Monday 19 January, 2026

  • 19:00 | Pushpa Ka Rickshaw (India, 2023, Dir. Aajad Singh Khichi, Documentary-Short, 16min, Nimadi-Malvi w/ English subtitles) In a remote village of Charbardi, in central India, Puspha Didi breaks the stereotype by driving the e-rickshaw, the first woman driver in the entire tehsil, not marred by people casting doubts on her capabilities.
  • 19:15 | Wisdom Of Happiness (Switzerland, 2024, Dir. Barbara Miller w/ Philip Delaquis, Documentary, 90min, English, NR G) The film is a profound new cinematic exploration of the innermost world of the Dalai Lama, perfectly attuned to our times. In an intimate heart-to-heart, the world’s greatest ambassador of compassion invites everyone along for a journey to the source of happiness.
  • 20:46 | Standing Alone (India, 2025, Producer-Writer-Editor-Camera-Dir. Smiti, Documentary, 75min, Tamil-English w/ English subtitles NR G) This documentary series looks at the individual life-journeys of 6 women who are single mothers from villages situated near Auroville. There are many more… Each has her own unique story and yet the hardships faced are common.
  • 22:01 | Adventures Of Nono (India, 2025, Writer-Editor-Camera-Sound-Dir. Santosh Manik, Documentary, 20min, Hindi w/ English subtitles, NR G) Adventures of Nono is set in the highlands of Ladakh. It is an intimate observational documentary that follows the everyday world of a two-year-old boy “Nono”, a child full of life, curiosity, and courage. Produced by Auroville Film Festival.

Tuesday 20 January, 2026

  • 19:00 | A Clay Connect (India, 2024, Editor-Dir. Serena Aurora, Documentary, 5min, English-Tamil w/ English subtitles, NR G) Traditional clay pottery in India is dying out since the younger generation has no interest in keeping the art form alive. This film captures the crossover of generations, featuring how contemporary and traditional styles blend to create unique pieces.
  • 19:05 | An Afternoon With Das Anna (India, 2025, Writer-Editor-Camera-Sound-Dir. Pia Sukhija, Documentary, 6min, Silent, NR G) Set in the streets of Auroville, the City of Dawn, this no-dialogue documentary spends an afternoon with Das, a quiet cobbler in Auroville whose daily rituals unfold into the rhythm of the street. Produced by Auroville Film Institute.
  • 19:11 | The Wait (South Africa, 2023, Writer-Dir. Imran Hamdulay, Short, 15min, Afrikaans-English-Xhosa w/ English subtitles, NR R) The film is an allegory of South Africa’s complex society, where a sense of powerlessness and hope exist together at all times.
  • 19:26 | Go My Way/Yo Voy Conmigo (Spain, 2024, Writer-Dir. Chelo Loureiro, Animation-Short, 7min, Spanish w/ English subtitles, NR G) Elisa likes Martin, but Martin doesn’t seem to realise it. All the advice Elisa receives to make Martin fall in love with her is to change not only her appearance, but also who she really is.
  • 19:33 | Gingerbread For Her Dad (Kazakhstan-Poland-Russian Federation, 2024, Writer-Dir. Alina Mustafina, Documentary-Feature-Drama, 84min, English-Kazakh-Polish-Russian w/ English subtitles) 85-year-old Lyabiba doesn’t remember her father, who died in World War II. Her only memory is of shouting joyfully about receiving ‘consolation’ gingerbread cookies after her father’s death notice. Lyabiba’s daughter and granddaughter (the film’s director) decide to find the mass grave in Poland where Lyabiba’s father was buried.
  • 20:57 | Disconnected Echoes (India, 2025, Writer-Editor-Camera-Sound-Dir. Polash PK, Documentary, 18min, Bengali-English with English subtitles, NR G) In July 2024, filmmaker Polash was in Ladakh when communication with his family in Bangladesh was cut off due to civil unrest. This documentary captures his emotional journey and isolation, alongside stories of separation from local families he stayed with in Ladakh. Produced by Auroville Film Festival.
  • 21:15 | Blooming Hour/மலரும் நேரம் (India, 2025, Writer-Editor-Camera-Sound-Dir. Logeswaran M, Documentary, 14min, Tamil w/ English subtitles, NR G) Trust brewing between the morning birds and the man who recently began feeding them. Produced by Auroville Film Institute.
  • 21:29 | Who Do You Think You Are? (Canada, 2025, Producer-Editor-Dir. Alan Baiss w/ Joseh Garcia, Documentary, 65min, English, NR G) Inspired by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, asking what global crises are asking of us.

Wednesday 21 January, 2026

  • 19:00 | Earth-chitecture: Building With Mud (India, 2024, Producer-Writer-Editor-Camera-Sound-Dir. Sampriti Roy, Documentary, 11min, English, NR G) Demonstrations on how to make CSEB and ferro cement for buildings featuring Ayyappan, Radhika and Satprem.
  • 19:10 | Green SuperHeroes 2030 (United States, 2024, Writer-Dir. Los Angeles Barea, Documentary, 79min, English, NR G) A group of 10 young environmentalists changing the world for the better. Their powers make the planet greener.
  • 20:29 | Ground Zero: Self-portrait Of An Ocean Abuser (Spain, 2024, Writer-Dir. David Gaspar, Documentary, 28min, Spanish w/ English subtitles, NR R) The film invites us to become aware of the problem of pollution in the oceans and the conflict it generates within us. Through an ironic and biting perspective, it tries to make us reflect on our responsibility in this regard with the aim of helping us improve our commitment to the oceans with small gestures.
  • 20:57 | Breaking Language/Romer el Español (Argentina, 2025, Dir. Sofia Castro, Documentary-Experimental, 17min, Argentinian Sign Language w/ English subtitles, NR G) Merging Argentinian Sign Language, dance, and documentary, the film presents the perspectives of four Deaf artists as they examine ideas of identity and resistance within a cultural and linguistic minority, the need for poetic and artistic creation in one’s own language, and the importance of feminism within the Deaf community.
  • 21:15 | And, Towards Happy Alleys (Islamic Republic of Iran-India, 2023, Writer-Dir. Sreemoyee Singh, Documentary-Feature, 75min, Persian with English subtitles, NR R) A passionate declaration of love for the cinema and poetry of Iran, which also offers a frank view of the precarious situation for critics of the regime and shows the uncompromising daily struggle of Iranian women against their oppression.

Thursday 22 January, 2026

  • 19:00 | H2O My Love/H2O Mon Amour (France, 2023, Writer-Dir. Laëtitia Martinoni, Short, 18min, French w/ English subtitles, NR R) Is it reasonable to fall in love during the end of the world? Alice and Simon meet as the water war rages.
  • 19:18 | Sunday (Uzbekistan, 2023, Writer-Dir. Shokir Kholikov, Feature, 96min, Uzbek w/ English subtitles, NR R) An elderly couple is living a peaceful life in a quiet Uzbek village. The elderly parents cherish their old home and are resistant to any change, leading to a conflict between the generations, where the struggle between tradition and progress reaches a breaking point.
  • 20:54 | 30 Years Of Keeping The Music Flowing – Auroville Choir (India, 2024, Producer-Writer-Dir. Serena Aurora, Documentary, 38min, English, NR G) Like the melting pot that Auroville is, the choir is an amalgamation of singers from across countries, age groups, and disciplines, performing music spanning different decades and centuries.
  • 21:32 | Where Trees Weep/Donde Se Quejan Los Pinos (Spain, 2024, Producer-Dir. Ed Antoja, Short, 10min, Spanish w/ English subtitles, NR R) A rural community wakes up to a crime scene in the middle of the forest. Little by little, a series of previous situations show us the conflicts that happened in the same place.
  • 21:42 | India Textile Part 1 (Russia-India, 2024, Writer-Editor-Camera-Dir. Anna-Maria Bakhtiarova, Documentary, 19min, Russian w/ English subtitles, NR G) A masters student sets out to discover the ancient art of Indian textiles.
  • 22:02 | India Textile Part 2 (Russia-India, 2025, Writer-Editor-Camera-Dir. Anna-Maria Bakhtiarova, Documentary, 21min, Russian w/ English subtitles, NR G) A masters student sets out to discover the ancient art of Indian textiles.
  • 22:22 | Indygama (India, 2024, Writer-Editor-Camera-Dir. Anna-Maria Bakhtiarova, Documentary, 6min, English, NR G) An anagama kiln in south India draws in ceramists with its magical and organic firings.

Friday 23 January, 2026

  • 19:00 | It Comes in Waves (India, 2025, Producer-Writer-Editor-Sound-Dir. Nefertiti Chakrabarti, Documentary, 4min, English, NR G) Shot on 16mm film, hand-developed in a basement and spliced in the mountains. A kaleidoscope of a small town in India, once colonized, now free.
  • 19:03 | Art Form/Kalai Vadivam (India, 2024, Writer-Editor-Dir. S. Yuvasri, Documentary, 5min, Tamil w/ English subtitles, NR G) A form of folk theatre from Tamil Nadu known as kattaikkuttu or therukoothu, featuring traditional theatre, song, dance, and ritual.
  • 19:09 | Last Resort/Chareh (Islamic Republic of Iran, 2024, Producer-Writer-Dir. Samiramis Kia, Short, 15min, Persian w/ English subtitles, NR R) An Iranian mother must find the will to change her destiny to be able to obtain custody of her daughter.
  • 19:24 | Junks And Dolls/Ashghal-ha Va Arousak-ha (Islamic Republic of Iran, 2023, Dir. Manijeh Hekmat, Feature, 75min, Farsi w/ English subtitles, NR R) A couple is destined to build up their life in the heart of a waste depot in the Iranian north forests. They begin to make different things with the junk they find and start to make friends with the other people… but what remains of the people who are determined to fight their nature?
  • 20:39 | Sound Of Air (India, 2025, Producer-Writer-Editor-Camera-Sound-Dir. Rishi Vengadesan, Documentary, 14min, English-Hindi w/ English subtitles, NR G) Explores changes to Indian classical music after the introduction of the harmonium and the relationship between the instrument maker and musicians.
  • 20:53 | Don Benjamin (Spain, 2024, Writer-Dir. Iván Zahinos, Short, 29min, Spanish w/ English subtitles, NR R) For Don Benjamín, the jungle has always been God, life, food, health, beauty and tradition. Now, the world in which he built a home for his family turns to smoke and ashes. This film is a journey both raw and poetic through a magical region in danger: the Bolivian Amazon.
  • 21:22 | The Farming Land (India, 2025, Producer-Writer-Dir. Mukul Kumar, Experimental-Dance, 15min, Silent, NR G) A surreal meditation on the weight of being. Won ‘Outstanding Indian Debut’ at Manifest Dance Film Festival 2025.

Saturday 24 January, 2026

  • 19:00 | No Other Land/Lā Arḍ Ukhrá (Falesteen-Norway, 2024, Writer-Dir. Basel Adra w/ Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Documentary, 95min, Arabic-Hebrew-English w/ English subtitles, NR R) The film was recorded between 2019 and 2023 and shows the destruction of a Falasteenian community in the occupied area, which had been resisting forced displacement after a ‘firing zone’ was declared on their land. This movie won more than 40 international awards.
  • 20:35 | My Comrade/Amar Comrade (India, 2024, Producer-Dir. Tathagata Ghosh, Short, 25min, Bengali-Santali w/ English subtitles, NR R) When a wounded rebel accidentally takes refuge in the home of a tribal villager, both men’s lives spiral into a tense interplay of politics and forbidden love.
  • 20:59 | A Fly On The Wall (Switzerland-India, 2024, Producer-Dir. Shonali Bose w/ Nilesh Maniyar, Documentary-Feature, 83min, English, NR R) Loved ones pour in from different parts of the world to raise one last toast with Chika Kapadia, who has an appointment at Dignitas for physician assisted suicide in the coming week, having chosen not to be tied to tubes and wires in his last moments. A filmmaker friend tasked with shooting Chika’s countdown to death records her own feelings, weaving a tale of dignity in death through the lens of friendship.
  • 22:22 | In The Wake Of The Wind (India, 2025, Producer-Writer-Editor-Camera-Dir. Pia Sukhija, Documentary, 7min, English w/ English subtitles, NR G) An exploration of a single day in the lives of a nomadic herder community on the Changthang Plateau in Ladakh. Produced by Auroville Film Institute.

Sunday 25 January, 2026

  • 19:00 | In The Name Of (India, 2024, Producer-Writer-Editor-Dir. Rizwan Hussain, Short-Drama-Silent, 5min, English, NR G) In a village town, two elderly men find themselves at a bus stop, their routine interrupted by a sudden event nearby. As they spring into action, their unexpected response to the situation resonates deeply and leaves a profound impact that transcends the ordinary.
  • 19:05 | Early Years In Auroville 1969-1976 (India, 2025, Producer-Writer-Camera-Dir. Lisbeth Nusselein, Documentary, 9min, English, NR G) Lisbeth’s journey in 1970 to Auroville from the Netherlands, told through archival photographs covering travel, arrival, life, work, the Mother, and community.
  • 19:14 | Letter to Mother (India, 2025, Writer-Editor-Dir. Partha P Datta, Documentary-Short, 5min, Bengali w/ English subtitles, NR G) On an evening field filled with children, Partha stands apart due to an injured leg. The film is a letter to his mother, expressing his quiet loneliness. Produced by Auroville Film Institute.
  • 19:19 | If/যদি (Jodi) (India, 2023, Producer-Dir. Tathagata Ghosh, Short, 26min, Bengali w/ English subtitles, NR R) An arranged marriage tears a lesbian couple apart, but with a mother’s love, perhaps another future is possible.
  • 19:45 | Village Rockstars 2 (India, 2024, Producer-Writer-Dir. Rima Das, Feature, 108min, Assamese w/ English subtitles, NR G) In a charming village in Assam, India, a teenage girl passionately chases her dream of becoming a musician. Faced with harsh realities, she embarks on a journey to rediscover the profound connection between music and life, seeking a new harmony in the symphony of her dreams.
  • 21:33 | Morning Star Auroville: Supporting Families Through Pregnancy, Birth, And Beyond (India, 2024, Editor-Dir. Serena Aurora, Documentary, 15min, English, NR G) A health and wellness initiative in Auroville supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and early parenting, urges a cultural shift to recognize birth as a life-changing experience for the family.
  • 21:48 | Orain (Spain, 2024, Dir. Ainara Oto Barberena, Documentary, 15min, Spanish w/ English subtitles, NR G) Sara has to make a documentary about Orain, a special education school. She needs to get the perfect images, but her attempts are frustrated by a series of crazy situations that bring her to the brink of a nervous breakdown. With the help of the kids, Sara learns the importance of living in the present.
  • 22:03 | Once Upon A Forest (India, 2024, Dir. Paul Blanchflower w/ Aurovenkatesh, Documentary, 13min, English with English subtitles, NR G) The film explores the Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest, the rarest forest type in India. Today less than 0.1 percent remains. It is a resilient environment, essential for the next generation on the Coromandel coast.
  • 22:17 | Project Wightiana (India, 2025, Dir. Cheenu Wild, Documentary, 10min, English w/ English subtitles, NR G) The film follows the journey of a forgotten wild Indian coffee species – Coffea Wightiana – in the Silence Forest of Auroville. A native, climate-resilient species that may hold answers to the future of coffee.