By Tanisha Mohanty
Filled with eclectic films, exciting conversations and interaction with industry experts, the Symbiosis Film Festival (SFF) 2025 ended on a joyous note in the late evening hours of December 6. Amidst raucous cheers and applause, the jury–alongwith Dr. Ruchi Kher Jaggi and Dr. Sreeram Gopalkrishnan– felicitated the winners as well as the shortlisted participants. Mrs Karia and Naam Kya Hai Tumhara? took home the top prizes.
The valedictory ceremony, following a brief thank you note by Dr. Gopalkrishnan, symbolised the success of the second edition of the festival. From around 130 submitted films, 16 were selected, comprising diverse languages, cultures and backgrounds and provoked enthusiastic response from the audience.
“True power of cinema lies in its power to inspire, to question, to provoke,” stated Diwa Shah, one of the jury members. Indeed, the filmmakers were lauded for their creative direction, screenplay, and especially representation of the politics and social realities prevalent in the country. Mr. Abhro Banerjee and Ms. Arya Rothe, the other jury members, also commended the filmmakers and audience for their participation.
Finally, Dr. Mithunchandra Chaudari, the event head, delivered the vote of thanks to all the organisers and contributors for successful execution of the film festival. “When you cannot say what you want to say… when the spaces and platforms are getting shrinked, when the noisy, propagative cinema is getting louder, it is extremely important to listen to those voices and give them a platform, the duty of the filmmaker is to ask poignant questions,” Dr. Chaudhari stated. “Many of the films tried to question the situation, the people, the authority… We will try to give a platform to these voices.”
Take a look at the full winners’ list below:
Short Documentary
Best Documentary
MRS. KARIA
Mahesh Krishna
Second Best Documentary
THE LAST PHOTO
Shreyas Mandhare
Best Director
KAAGAZ KI TAQDEER
Manu Ramesh
Jury Special Mention
MI HERO ZHALO
Om Khandeparkar and Abhay Mehta
CHRISTMAS AT THE BARVES’
Maresha Barve
Short Fiction
Best Screenplay
MATAR PANEER
Chandan Sahani
Best Director
PILOT
Sonia Mackwani
Second Best Short Film
WE, THE PUFFCORNS, OF INDIA
Aditya Mungde
Best Short Film
NAAM KYA HAI TUMHARA?
Alok Rajwade