PIIFF 2025 kicks off with vibrant celebration of cinema & creativity

Indore(Team Newsbuddy): The 8th Prestige Indore International Film Festival (PIIFF), organized by the Department of Mass Communication at Prestige Institute of Management and Research (PIMR), Indore, began with grandeur. It offered a unique platform celebrating cinema, art, and storytelling. Held under the theme “Kalachitra—Where Art Meets Cinema,” the festival beautifully blended artistic expression with cinematic innovation.

The festival opened with lamp lighting in the presence of PIMR Group Director Dr. S.S. Bhakar, UG Campus Director Col. Dr. S. Raman Iyer, and film and TV actor guests Ashok Pathak, Anulata Raj Nair, Nitesh Upadhyay, and Shriram Jog.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony. Dr. Bhakar highlighted the festival’s “learning by doing” approach, calling it a vital platform for young talent. Dr. Iyer described it as a living cultural archive.

The opening day featured a powerful silent film by Anulata Nair and Pallavi Trivedi. In a candid conversation, actor Ashok Pathak (of Panchayat fame) shared insights from his theater journey, emphasizing, “Theater is an actor’s foundation—it teaches us to see life with depth. Authenticity is the soul of acting.”

The second session showcased 14 short films created during the 48-hour filmmaking competition. Films like The Backup Plan, Imaginary Companion, and Rewrite the Ending impressed audiences and judges alike. Winners will be announced during the valedictory session.

In her engaging masterclass, writer-director Anulata Nair shared the craft of story-building, urging aspiring writers to focus on structure, character, and personal experience. “Writing can’t be taught, but it can be cultivated,” she noted, highlighting the importance of reading and introspection. The day concluded with a screening of Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, leaving students and faculty inspired and entertained, setting the tone for the days to come.