Indisches Filmfestival Stuttgart / Indian Film Festival Stuttgart

27/07/2026

🏆 DIRECTOR’S VISION AWARD 2026 🏆
Congratulations to Abhay Punjabi, director of Pukam Pukai – To Fetch a Pail of Water, winner of the Director’s Vision Award at the 23rd Indian Film Festival Stuttgart! 🎬✨
JURY STATEMENT:
“Sometimes it would help to see the world through a child’s eyes.
Children are passionate, and if they were allowed to follow their own childlike emotions, many of the world’s barriers would come crashing down. Friendship is more important than whether you’re rich or poor, or what you believe in.
Abhay Punjabi shows us this vision, this dream, in his wonderful family film Pukam Pukai – To Fetch a Pail of Water. All the social barriers and inequalities that the children face have been created by adults. Life could be so much simpler, and the world a little more peaceful, if we were to follow friendship as the greatest of all goods.
For this lesson to us all, the film deserves to be honoured with the Director’s Vision Award 2026.”
Congratulations to Abhay Punjabi and the entire team of Pukam Pukai! 🏆👏

27/07/2026

🏆 GERMAN STAR OF INDIA 2026 – AUDIENCE AWARD 🏆
The audience has spoken! 🎬✨
With the highest number of votes by a clear margin, Jackal Hunt (Narivetta), directed by Anuraj Manohar, wins the Audience Award at the 23rd Indian Film Festival Stuttgart! 🏆👏
Thank you to everyone who voted and made your voice heard. This award belongs to the audience — and to the film that captured your hearts.
Congratulations to Anuraj Manohar and the entire team of Jackal Hunt (Narivetta)! 🎉🎬

26/07/2026

🏆 GERMAN STAR OF INDIA 2026 – FEATURE FILM 🏆
Congratulations to director Khanjan Kishore Nath and Kangbo Alofi (The Lost Path), winner of the German Star of India 2026 for Feature Film at the 23rd Indian Film Festival Stuttgart! 🎬✨
JURY STATEMENT:
“The best feature film in competition, as chosen by the jury, is a milestone for indigenous cinema from Northeast India: one of the very first feature films ever made in the Karbi language, and thus a powerful cinematic testament to a culture that has rarely found its place on the big screen.
Through exceptionally precise and beautifully composed imagery, assured, understated direction, and profound emotional honesty, Khanjan Kishore Nath crafts a breathtaking political thriller set against the backdrop of the Karbi uprising of the early 2000s that grips from its opening moments. Captivating, tightly woven, and deeply human.”
Read the full jury statement on our website.
Congratulations to Khanjan Kishore Nath and the entire team of Kangbo Alofi! 🏆👏

26/07/2026

🏆 GERMAN STAR OF INDIA 2026 – SHORT FILM 🏆
Congratulations to Devansh Agarwal and Detective Meter Down, winner of the German Star of India 2026 for Short Film at the 23rd Indian Film Festival Stuttgart! 🎬✨
JURY STATEMENT:
“A film that demonstrates just how much energy, charm and wit a detective story can contain.
Detective Meter Down takes us into the vibrant city of Mumbai and into a case that starts out small before becoming ever larger, stranger and more surprising. At its heart is Rajesh, no conventional detective, but a man with plenty of confidence and even more hope. No one really believes in him. We do.
The film brings together genre, pace, humour and emotion with apparent ease. Its confident formal choices, compelling characters and wonderfully light touch create a crime story that captivates and creates suspense without needing a lengthy runtime.
It is for these reasons that we are proud to honour Detective Meter Down with the German Star of India 2026.”
Read the full jury statement on our website.
Congratulations to Devansh Agarwal and the entire team of Detective Meter Down! 🏆👏

26/07/2026

🏆 GERMAN STAR OF INDIA 2026 – DOCUMENTARY 🏆
Congratulations to director Dipanjali Khakhlary and her documentary, winner of the German Star of India 2026 for Documentary at the 23rd Indian Film Festival Stuttgart! 🎬✨
JURY STATEMENT:
“A crematorium is usually an emotionally challenging place. After the death of her father, protagonist Tumpa Das finds herself thrust into a male domain, hearing more cries and prayers than praise and gratitude.
But against all odds, she achieves the unexpected. Whether in daily quarrels with male coworkers, mourning relatives or the commanding family of a possible husband, Tumpa finds the balance between piety and professionalism while emphasizing respect between the sexes and hope for the future.
Dipanjali Khakhlary’s camera gets close but remains sensitive, while the sound design creates a busy yet heartfelt environment. The interviews establish Tumpa as an exceptional worker and a truly inspiring woman.
Congratulations!”
Read the full jury statement on our website.
Congratulations to Dipanjali Khakhlary and the entire team! 🏆👏

26/07/2026

🏆 SHOOTING STAR 2026 🏆
For the sake of completeness, we are also celebrating an award that was already announced and presented before the festival: the Shooting Star Award 2026, awarded to Amartya Ray for his outstanding performance in NEVERMIND. 🌟🎬
JURY STATEMENT:
“Amartya Ray made a particular impression on us with NEVERMIND. He brings the character of Jude to life in a truly outstanding way — a small-time nobody drifting through Kolkata’s underworld, yet imbued with deep melancholy, charm and a complexity that makes us root for him from the very beginning.
Is Jude a simple lad, a sly opportunist, or a gifted musician? Amartya Ray’s portrayal makes anything possible. His performance creates a character who inspires us far beyond the film itself — someone we would love to see return in other stories.
We wish Amartya Ray many great roles in which he can showcase his talent, and every possible success in his career.”
Read the full jury statement on our website.
Congratulations once again to Amartya Ray, Shooting Star 2026! 🌟👏

24/07/2026

A special greeting from Chaiti Ghoshal! 🎬✨

We are excited to welcome Chaiti Ghoshal to the Indian Film Festival Stuttgart 2026 with her film Nevermind.

Returning to Kolkata from Leicester, Trina sets out to find someone she lost decades ago. Over the course of one day, her search takes her through the crowded streets and quiet corners of the city — until her journey leads her to Nevermind, a neon-lit bar on Park Street where different lives and stories collide. 🌃🎶

A story of family, identity, love and the unexpected ways in which the past can find its way back into our lives. ❤️

Discover Nevermind at the Indian Film Festival Stuttgart.

📅 Saturday, 25 July
⏰ 8:00 PM
📍 Cinema, Innenstadtkinos Stuttgart

We can’t wait to share this special film with you! 🎬❤️

23/07/2026

A special greeting from Debalina Majumder! 🎬✨

We are excited to welcome Debalina Majumder, director of Jilipibalar Bondhura (Friends of Jilipibalar), to the Indian Film Festival Stuttgart 2026.

For twelve years, Debalina has been filming a giant tamarind tree in her neighbourhood in South Kolkata — a thriving ecosystem and a small urban oasis inhabited by countless birds and animals. 🐦🌳

At the heart of this wondrous world is Jilipibala, a toddler who already knows the names of many of the tree’s non-human inhabitants. Together with her animal companions, she experiences their joys, struggles and the growing sounds of destruction surrounding their fragile habitat.

A beautiful and deeply observant film about childhood, nature and the delicate relationship between urban life and the world around us. ❤️

Discover Jilipibalar Bondhura (Friends of Jilipibalar) at the Indian Film Festival Stuttgart.

📅 Sunday, 26 July
⏰ 1:00 PM
📍 EM2, Innenstadtkinos Stuttgart

We can’t wait to share this special film with you! 🎬❤️

22/07/2026

🚨 TOMORROW NIGHT. WE OPEN THE FESTIVAL. 🚨🎬🇮🇳🔥

STUTTGART, GET READY! 🎉

The Indian Film Festival Stuttgart kicks off tomorrow with an unforgettable opening night at Innenstadtkinos Stuttgart! ✨

Here’s what’s waiting for you:

🥂 7:00 PM – Champagne Reception
Come together, meet fellow film lovers and get ready for four days of Indian cinema! 🍾✨

🎊 8:00 PM – Grand Opening Ceremony
The festival officially begins! 🎬🔥

🎥 FOLLOWED BY: EKO – OUR OPENING FILM

Set against the misty hills of Kaattukunnu, on the Kerala–Karnataka border, EKO takes us into a wild and untamed landscape where nature guards its secrets.

A place where silence is broken only by the echo of dogs calling across the forested hills.

Once home to the legendary dog breeder Kuriyachan, Kaattukunnu has become a place where stories turn into legends. Even in his absence, Kuriyachan’s presence can still be felt — watching, waiting, and ruling the hills.

🌫️ A mysterious story.
🐕 A haunting landscape.
🎬 An unforgettable opening film.

🎟️ Tickets for the Opening Ceremony and EKO are still available!

📅 TOMORROW – July 23
📍 Innenstadtkinos Stuttgart

THIS IS HOW THE INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL STUTTGART BEGINS.

LET’S GOOOOOOO! 🔥🔥🔥🇮🇳🎬

22/07/2026

🚨🚨🚨 STUTTGART, ARE YOU READY?! 🚨🚨🚨

TOMORROW. IT. STARTS. 🎬🇮🇳🔥

The Indian Film Festival Stuttgart is finally here – and we are kicking things off BIG! 🎉

🎊 GRAND OPENING CEREMONY – TOMORROW! 🎊

🥂 7 PM – Champagne reception
🎬 8 PM – Opening Ceremony in the cinema

Come celebrate with us as we open four incredible days of Indian cinema, culture, music and unforgettable encounters! ✨🔥

🎥 67 films.
🌍 Over 36 languages.
🇮🇳 One festival.
❤️ One big celebration of Indian cinema in Stuttgart.

And YES – tickets for the Opening Ceremony are still available! 🎟️

👉 BE THERE WHEN THE FESTIVAL BEGINS.

📅 July 23–26
📍 Innenstadtkinos Stuttgart

STUTTGART, LET’S GOOOOOOO! 🔥🔥🔥🇮🇳🎬

Who’s joining us tomorrow? 👇🙌

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