Speakers
Languages carry more than words. They hold songs, stories, myths, proverbs, poetry and the lived experiences of the communities that speak them. This film festival is not, at its heart, simply a celebration of linguistic diversity. It is a reminder of what is at stake when a language disappears: an entire perspective and expression of the world.
Across India, languages such as Tiwa, Kodava, Santhali, Kurmali, Kokborok and Sherdukpen are spoken by communities whose linguistic traditions are increasingly vulnerable. Globalisation and the dominance of economically powerful languages have accelerated this process, putting many lesser-spoken languages at risk of disappearing. This film festival brings together films in some of these near-forgotten languages, offering an opportunity to encounter their speakers, stories and worlds on their own terms.
Alongside the screenings, the festival will bring together filmmakers, writers and others working with endangered languages for a conversation on the importance of endangered languages.
Schedule
Day 1 | Oct 10 | 11:30am – 5:30pm
11:30am – 11:45am: Opening Note
11:45am – 1:30pm: Sikaisal / If Only Trees Could Talk
104 minutes | Tiwa with English subtitles | 2022 | Bobby Sarma Baruah
Sikaisal won the NFA for Best Film in Tiwa language. Directed by Bobby Sarma Baruah, it is Based on the real-life struggles of Maheswar Patar, a dedicated school teacher in Ulukunchi village of Assam. Highlighting his determination to educate children in a remote community of Northeast India in the face of numerous challenges, the film won a Special Jury Mention at the 28th Kolkata International Film Festival.
1:30pm – 3pm: Break
3pm – 5:30pm: Kherwal
125 minutes | Santali with English subtitles | 2023 | Uttam Kamati
Kherwal is an acclaimed Santali-language film written, directed and produced by Uttam Kamati. After the sudden death of the Norwegian Samuel, an academic Padre who was researching their tribal culture, Bidu strives to fulfill the Padre’s last wish: to be buried in the village. This sets off a poignant journey for Bidu’s young son, who is devastated as he wanted to travel to Norway with the academic. Kherwal uniquely features non-professional actors, including a local mobile repair shop owner as the lead character. The film has been celebrated on the festival circuit, winning awards at the Jaipur IFF and the IFF of Kerala.
The screening will be followed by an audience Q&A.
Day 2 | Oct 11 | 11:30am – 7pm
11:30am – 1pm: Panel discussion on Endangered Languages
A conversation on the importance of endangered languages and the cultural worlds they hold. Filmmakers, writers and practitioners reflect on the challenges faced by lesser-spoken languages, and the ways in which they can be documented, nurtured and kept alive.
1pm – 2pm: Break
2pm – 4:30pm: Ber / The Root
125 minutes | Kodava with English subtitles | 2023 | Prakash Kariappa
Ber was written, directed and produced by ex-service man Prakash Kariappa. The Kodava language film encapsulates the intricacies of a father-daughter relationship and in the process delves into themes of tradition, generational divides, and the need to preserve the Kodava culture. It has featured in festivals including BIFFes and Dhaka International Film Festival.
The screening will be followed by an audience Q&A.
4:30pm – 4:45pm: Tea Break
4:45pm – 6:30pm: Whispers Of The Mountains
90 minutes | Rajasthani with English subtitles | 2025 | Jigar Nagda
Whispers Of The Mountains is a Rajasthani language drama directed by Jigar Nagda, featured in the Indian Panorama section of the 56th IFFI at Goa. It explores the fragile balance between ecological preservation and the livelihoods of communities living in the Aravalli region, underscoring the human cost of mining in Northwest India.
The screening will be followed by an audience Q&A.
6:30pm – 7pm: Closing Note
Venue: Seminar Halls
Speakers
Ratnottama Sengupta
Ratnottama Sengupta is a film journalist, festival curator and organiser, author and recipient of the National Film Award. She has served on several international film juries, including the jury for the 54th National Film Awards and the Kautik International Student Film Festival. She is also the daughter of noted screenwriter, Nabendu Ghosh.
Uttam Kamati
Uttam Kamati is an independent filmmaker and writer.
Prakash Kariappa
Prakash Kariappa Kottukathira (born 20 September 1965) is an Indian film producer, actor, director, writer, entrepreneur and former Indian Army officer. He has worked primarily in Kodava and Kannada cinema and has made significant contributions to the Kodava film industry. Along with his wife, filmmaker Yeshoda Prakash, he co-founded the production banners Swasthik Entertainment and Coorg Coffeewood Movies.
Their Kannada film Kandeelu (2022) received the National Film Award for Best Kannada Feature Film. Prakash Kariappa received the award from the President of India at the 71st National Film Awards Ceremony held in New Delhi on 23 September 2025.c
Jigar Nagda
Jigar Nagda is an Indian writer and director based in Mumbai, known for Whispers of the Mountains (2025), A Boy Who Dreamt of Electricity (2024) and Aravali: The Lost Mountains (2022). His films explore human relationships, environmental realities and the lives of people shaped by economic and social circumstances. He is the founder of Udaipur Pictures, an independent production company based in Mumbai and Rajasthan.
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