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Habitat Film Festival

May 16 - 25, 2025

The ten-day festival from May 16-25 brings a curated selection of feature films, documentaries and short films from 2024-25 where screenings and discussions with filmmakers intertwine with collateral events such as film retrospectives, workshops, and book discussions. As a beloved gathering for auteurs, cinephiles and students, HFF fosters a culture of collective viewing and sharing and is thrilled to present another exciting edition.

Apart from a viewing experience like no other with Dolby Atmos sound and top of the line projection technology, the HFF, as always, promises to broaden the intellectual horizons of cinephiles, providing a holistic experience.

This year, the HFF pays tribute to Shyam Benegal, the pioneer of parallel cinema in India. Aruna Vasudev, “Mother of Asian Cinema” and founder NETPAC and Manoj Kumar the much loved star of iconic patriotic films. Marking this is an exhibition and a Retrospective of Shyam Benegal's films, screenings of NETPAC award winning films and the Manoj Kumar film Upkaar.

Opening the Benegal retrospective is Shabana Azmi whose cinematic journey began with “Ankur”and who celebrates 50 years in Indian cinema. In conversation with her on her journey and experiences is none other than Aparna Sen, the iconic Director and Actor. Other legends of the screen who celebrate 50 years on the silver screen include the Southern showstoppers Rajnikanth and Chiranjeevi. Professor S.V. Srinivas of Azim Premji University will commemorate the occasion with a talk chronicling the characteristics, limitations and possibilities of southern superstardom.

HFF also marks the birth centenary year of Raj Kapoor, Tapan Sinha, Mohammed Rafi, and Talat Mahmood with screenings, discussions, and an exhibition of posters of the art of Raj Kapoor’s cinema, courtesy TRIS (Tuli Research Centre for India Studies).

With films in over 24 languages, the HFF promises a truly pan-Indian selection.

Registrations for IHC Members opens from May 4. Open to all from May 10.

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Shyam Benegal Retrospective

This year, the HFF pays tribute to Shyam Benegal, the pioneer of parallel cinema in India. The Shyam Benegal Retrospective is flagged off with the screening of his first feature film Ankur, graced by the presence of its leading actress Shabana Azmi. Other films to be screened as part of the retrospective include the iconic Manthan, the path-breaking Mandi, and the unmissable Junoon. The HFF also pays tribute to Shyam Benegal through the exhibition from the archives of the Tuli Research Centre for India Studies - The Cinema of Shyam Benegal.

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Centenary Year Celebrations of Raj Kapoor, Mohammad Rafi, Talat Mahmood and Tapan Sinha - Dastangoi, discussions, screenings and more

HFF also celebrates Raj Kapoor’s birth centenary year. We mark the occasion with his life and career woven into a vibrant dastangoi Dastan-e-Raj Kapoor, directed by Mahmood Farooqui and performed by Rajesh Kumar & Rana Pratap Sengar. Adding to this are a screening of his iconic film Awara, and an exhibition of posters of the art of Raj Kapoor’s cinema. The HFF is also proud to mark the birth centenary years of Mohammad Rafi, Talat Mahmood and Tapan Sinha with book discussions and screenings.

Celebrating the Journeys of Shabana Azmi, Chiranjeevi & Rajinikanth who mark 50 years in Indian Cinema

Opening the Benegal retrospective is Shabana Azmi whose cinematic journey began with Ankur and who celebrates 50 years in Indian cinema. In conversation with her on her journey and experiences is none other than Aparna Sen, herself a force of nature. Other legends of the screen who celebrate 50 years on the silver screen include the Southern showstoppers Rajinikanth and Chiranjeevi. Professor S.V. Srinivas of Azim Premji University will commemorate the occasion with a talk chronicling the characteristics, limitations and possibilities of southern superstardom.

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Exhibitions

The HFF will feature two exhibitions in collaboration with the Tuli Research Centre for India Studies, commemorating the life and work of two pioneering individuals of the Indian film industry, who shaped Indian cinema in their unique ways. One exhibition celebrates the birth centenary of Raj Kapoor, while the other remembers Shyam Benegal.

The Cinema of Raj Kapoor – 16 to 20 May 2025

The Cinema of Shyam Benegal - 21 to 25 May 2025

10:00 am to 8:00 pm daily at the Convention Centre Foyer Gallery

Masterclass

Cinema as a Critical Educational Resource Part 1 and 2

Cinema as a Critical Educational Resource is a leading Research Category at T.R.I.S. This is amply visible in its online knowledge base tuliresearchcentre.org

To ensure that the HFF is not merely a viewing opportunity, but a learning experience that widens the knowledge-base of every cinephile, this year’s HFF will also feature an extended masterclass by Neville Tuli, Founder and President, Tuli Research Centre for India Studies, on cinema as a critical educational resource. The workshops will be especially interesting for students, academics and faculty members who are primarily interested in using the world of cinema to integrate across all other subjects with an in-depth and relatively unique transdisciplinary pedagogic approach to learning.

Date : May 24
Registrations open from 10 May.

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Short Films

In addition as always HFF is a platform for documentary and short films. A range of languages and content find place in the selection from the submissions for the Festival. Returning after its successful and enthusiastic reception last year is the Best of Critics Choice Awards 2025, curated by the Film Critics Guild. Yet another package that is a must for cinephiles is the curated package of non fiction films by PSBT.

Documentaries

Documentaries at HFF cover a wide array of poignant stories, lending the cinematic platform to real people, events and stories. Do not miss a documentary package in collaboration with Rough Edges, featuring Umbro, which has won innumerable accolades across festivals, or B25 which touchingly documents queer realities. Audiences will also have the unique opportunity to interact with select documentary-makers who will be present for the screenings.

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Registration Procedure

For IHC members :
  • Registrations open from May 4.
  • Passes can be booked for all films.
  • Upto 2 passes per member can be booked.
  • Passes can be booked for a maximum of three films in a day by one viewer.
  • Seating is on a first-come-first served basis.
For non-IHC members :
  • Registrations open in two batches.
  • Passes for films from May 16th - 20th will open from May 10th.
  • Passes for films from May 21st- 25th will open from May 17th.
  • Up to 2 passes per viewer can be booked.
  • Passes can be booked for a maximum of three films in a day by one viewer.
  • Seating is on a first-come-first served basis.