Indian Film Festival of Cincinnati Celebrates a Decade of Culture and Cinema

​

The Indian Film Festival recently marked a vibrant milestone—its 10th anniversary—with an elegant evening of dinner and cinema, generously supported by the Indian Consulate of New York.

The celebrations began with an exclusive dinner for eighty guests at the  elegant Quarter Bistro, followed by a film screening at the historic Mariemont Theatre, drawing over 300 attendees. The event seamlessly blended culture, community, and storytelling, capturing the spirit of the festival's decade-long journey.
 

Representing the Indian government were co-hosts and sponsors of the event, Consul Tsewang Gyaltson and his wife Nilza Wangmo who traveled from New York to join the festivities.
Among the distinguished guests were Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, Mariemont Mayor Bill Brown, Mariemont Police Chief Richard Hines, and Hamilton County Coroner Dr. Lakshmi Sammarco.
 

Dr. Ratee Apana, founder and director of the festival and president of the India Sister City initiative, alongside with vice president and co-director Dr. Pat Niskode welcomed guests. Their heartfelt remarks paid tribute to a decade of cinematic celebration and cultural exchange.
 

The evening's feature film, Umbaro, a poignant, subtitled drama, spotlighted women's voices and narratives, aligning beautifully with the festival’s enduring mission to amplify diverse stories from the Indian subcontinent.
 

The celebration was further enriched by the presence and support of dedicated team members including Dr. Rajan Kamath, Anita and Savio Soares, Mr. Bajeer Singh, Mr. Sunish Sasidharan, Ms. Saritha, Ms. Neeru Arora, Mr. Montu Bedi, Ms. Clara Matonzhode, Dr. Pranav Seth, Dr. Abhijit Desai, Julie Desai, and Mrs.Hansa Gokhli.

With a decade behind it and growing community support, the Indian Film Festival continues to serve as a cultural bridge, uniting people through the universal language of film.