“Life of Pi” Takes Center Stage: IFFLA Expands Industry Days in Exclusive Reveal!

The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) is set to highlight the celebrated theatrical version of “Life of Pi” in its enhanced Industry Days segment. The discussion, titled “Bringing Life of Pi to Life – From Page to Stage,” will delve into the creative process of turning Yann Martel’s popular novel into a pioneering stage production, which features advanced puppetry and set designs.

Actors Savidu Geevaratne, Sharayu Mahale, and Sorab Wadia will engage in a dialogue focusing on themes of representation, adaptation, and the broader cultural impact of featuring a South Asian-led story in Broadway theaters and its wider implications.

This panel is part of a comprehensive two-day industry event that will take place on May 8-9, 2025, at the Landmark Theatres Sunset in Los Angeles. The program has been expanded due to the success of its first edition the previous year.

“Building on the success of last year’s event, the extended Industry Days provide an essential platform for innovative South Asian creatives and diaspora to meet, interact with key industry figures, develop significant connections, and discover a diverse range of projects with broad appeal,” stated Christina Marouda, the executive director of IFFLA.

A masterclass entitled “From Dhaka to Hollywood: The Genre-Bending World of Nuhash Humayun” will showcase the work of one of South Asia’s promising new directors. During this session, Humayun, known for his horror short “Moshari,” will discuss his approach to crafting compelling local narratives with global resonance, his experiences working across different cultures and film industries, and his efforts to carve out a niche for South Asian horror in the international film scene.

A major feature of this year’s schedule is the introduction of IFFLA Connect, a new venture launched in partnership with Cinévesture. This initiative will present South Asian film projects from India, Nepal, and Bangladesh under the joint banner of CinéV-IFFLA, in addition to North American projects curated by IFFLA.

The South Asian selection includes notable projects such as “Friends and Fascism” by Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy (India/U.S.); “Kafala” and “Moving Bangladesh” by Nuhash Humayun (Bangladesh); Radhika Apte’s directorial debut “Koyta” (India), produced by Vikramaditya Motwane; “Papita” by Aakash Bhatia (India) produced by Richa Chadha; Leena Manimekalai’s “Saracura” (India); Afronza Hossain’s “Song of Jhinuk” (Bangladesh); and Deepak Rauniyar’s “The Taste of Dreams” (Nepal), with the last two films produced by Nina Lath.

The North American lineup features “Mouna Tharangam (A Silent Wave)” by Sachin Dheeraj (U.S.) and Ravi Kapoor’s “Patel” (U.S.), showcasing a variety of South Asian diasporic perspectives. “This program is dedicated to providing these influential South Asian-led projects the necessary exposure and support from partners in the Hollywood industry,” commented Noopur Sinha, festival producer.

Returning this year is The Launchpad: Pitch Competition, where finalists Alisha Bhowmik (“Untitled Kolkata Film”), Vankshita Mishra (“The Moth & the Fly”), the team of Venk Potula, Rena Patel, and Bijon Imtiaz (“Now & Then”), Kiana Rawji (“Adult Children”), and Minoti Vaishnav (“The Secret Life of Samira Sen”) will pitch their projects to industry executives for a chance to win a $10,000 development grant. The panel of judges includes TV and film producer Aanch Khaneja, Isaac Klausner from Temple Hill Entertainment, Santiago Marcos of Gaumont Television, writer Madhuri Shekar, and Chisom Ude from Inflection Point Entertainment.

Industry Days will also host panels discussing the use of AI in storytelling and the future of international cinema, featuring executives from Netflix, Neon, Orion Pictures, Film Independent, among others. The feature film jury includes renowned actor Rajshri Deshpande, author Priyanka Mattoo, and film critic Carla Renata, while the short film jury consists of director Maureen Bharoocha, actor-writer Kausar Mohammed, and Sundance programmer Sudeep Sharma.

IFFLA is scheduled to run from May 6-10.