More than 120 Indian filmmakers and producers have joined forces to establish the Independent Filmmakers Assn. of India (IFAI), a non-profit aimed at improving theater access, distribution channels, and streaming visibility for the country's independent film sector.
Launch at Cannes
The IFAI was officially launched at the Cannes Film Festival, represented by actor-producer Anshuman Jha and filmmaker Devashish Makhija. Operating as a democratic, member-driven body, the IFAI will focus on advocacy, exhibition, distribution, public policy, mentorship, and audience development.
Origins and Goals
The collective's formation was motivated by challenges faced by director Kanu Behl's film “Agra,” which, despite debuting at Cannes in 2023 and receiving critical acclaim, struggled with limited showtimes and exhibition support. This scenario highlighted broader issues in India's indie cinema landscape. Founding members stated, "What started as a small WhatsApp conversation between a handful of filmmakers organically grew into a larger movement. We realized that independent films in India are surviving not because of the system, but often in spite of it. What we needed was a collective voice."
Diverse Leadership
The founding board includes notable directors such as Aarti Kadav, Alankrita Shrivastava, Anshuman Jha, Bauddhayan Mukherji, Devashish Makhija, Harsh Agarwal, Honey Trehan, Kanu Behl, Parth Saurabh, Ruchi Narain, and Sudhanshu Saria, among others. The membership also extends to filmmakers like Nandita Das and Abhay Deol.
Behl emphasized the importance of nurturing indie cinema, stating, "Independent cinema is where new voices, new forms, and uncomfortable truths emerge first. We need to nurture and protect that space for the next generation of cinematic experimentation and expression."
Future Initiatives
Beyond advocacy, the IFAI plans to conduct workshops, mentorship programs, and community initiatives to support emerging talent. The association welcomes directors and producers at all career stages. Jha highlighted the importance of a supportive ecosystem, saying, "The idea is to create an ecosystem where independent filmmakers don’t feel isolated while making deeply personal cinema. Beyond creating films, we hope to share resources, knowledge, and collective experience around marketing, distribution, and audience-building — because independent cinema in India can only grow stronger if filmmakers grow together."
Shrivastava echoed the sentiment, expressing concern over the shrinking space for alternative films: "I feel the space for the independent-spirited, alternative film is shrinking. And that bothers me. I feel, as a society, we need to have a vibrant cinema culture with all kinds of films. Diverse and alternate films need to have space to thrive. I’m excited to be part of a collective where filmmakers are coming together to find ways to help nurture a space and a system for these vital films."
The IFAI represents a significant collective effort by India's indie filmmaking community to address the challenges of diminishing theatrical windows and a cautious streaming environment.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/film/markets-festivals/india-indie-filmmakers-collective-distribution-barriers-1236749588/
