Bhubaneswar: The second edition of the Bhubaneswar Film Festival (BFF) rolled out the red carpet on June 6 at Jayadev Bhawan, ushering in four days of rich cinematic celebration under the theme ‘An Indian Language Film Carnival.’
Organised by the Bhubaneswar Film Circle, the festival has grown leaps and bounds since its inaugural edition, spotlighting regional and national cinema in ten Indian languages.
The festival was inaugurated with much fanfare by lighting the auspicious lamp by an ensemble of cinematic luminaries—veteran actor-director Prashant Nanda, theatre doyen Anant Mahapatra, acclaimed filmmaker Sabyasachi Mohapatra, former Femina editor Sathya Saran, and actor-director Amit Ray. BFF Convener Sanjoy Patnaik and Co-convener Subash Sahu also shared the dais.
While addressing the gathering, Prashant Nanda voiced optimism for the Odia film industry, saying, “The day is not far when Odia films will enjoy a pan-India presence.”
As a heartfelt nod to Odia cinema’s stalwarts, singer Tansen Singh, actress Jaya Swami, veteran actor Shyamalendu Bhattacharya, costume designer Nirmal Dash, and art director Banchhanidhi Patnaik were felicitated.
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Adding literary flair, the book ‘Moods and Madness in Memories’ was released during the inaugural ceremony.
Anchoring the evening with elegance were actor Sukant Rath, a key force behind the festival, and Sulagnaa Routray.
True to its theme, BFF 2025 will screen 19 films across ten languages—including Odia, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Tiwa, Bengali, Urdu, and Chhattisgarhi—with daily screenings beginning at 10 AM.
Cinephiles are in for a treat with masterpieces like Ritwik Ghatak’s ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’ (Bengali), Girish Kasaravalli’s ‘Ghatashraddha’ (Kannada), Ketan Mehta’s ‘Bhavani Bhavai’ (Gujarati), Prakash Jha’s ‘Damul’ (Hindi), and Bobby Sarma Baruah’s ‘Sikaisal’ (Tiwa).
A special tribute will also be paid to the late Shyam Benegal with a screening of his iconic film ‘Ankur’.
The opening day saw screenings of the timeless Odia classic ‘Matira Manisha’, followed by ‘Ankur’ (Hindi), ‘Kaa’ (Odia), and ‘Bhakta Salabega’ (Odia).
On Day 2, the lineup includes ‘Hamid’ (Urdu), ‘Shwaas’ (Marathi), ‘Bhavani Bhavai’ (Gujarati), ‘Kalira Atita’ (Odia), and ‘Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam’ (Hindi).
Day 3 promises cinematic diversity with ‘Krantidhara’ (Odia), ‘Sikaisal’ (Tiwa), ‘Bhulan The Maze’ (Chhattisgarhi), ‘Damul’ (Hindi), and ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’ (Bengali).
The curtain will come down on June 9 with a strong Odia lineup—‘Jajabara’, ‘Nirbachana’, ‘Kanakalata’, and ‘Adina Megha’, along with the Kannada gem ‘Ghatashraddha’.
BFF 2025 is not just about watching films—it’s about learning from the best. On June 7, renowned Bollywood screenwriter Charudutt Acharya will lead a screenwriting masterclass at Gita Govinda Sadan. On June 8, casting director Abhimanyu Roy will conduct a session on acting at the Press Club, offering aspiring artists a peek behind the curtain of the film industry.
Adding intellectual depth to the event, the festival also features panel discussions, interactions with filmmakers, and the release of a scholarly compilation exploring the works of Indian cinema’s icons.
As the Bhubaneswar Film Festival 2025 unfolds, it reinforces the power of cinema—not just as entertainment, but as a medium of cultural dialogue, artistic expression, and national unity.
