The First Film

In a small town in 1960’s India, deep-rooted in orthodox traditions, cinema is believed to corrupt young minds and women have been forbidden to watch films. Devi, a 14-year-old girl, is obsessed with films, and dreams of watching a film in the theatre one day. Her neighbour, Mohan, is a 14-year-old mute boy who is a cinephile. Every night when the world sleeps, he narrates her stories from his favourite films. One day, an unforeseen incident shakes up their little world, leaving Devi with one last chance to pursue her dream.

Directed by Piyush Thakur

Director’s Bio: Piyush Thakur, an FTII alumnus, directed The Real Millionaire, which competed for the International Grand Prix at Clermont-Ferrand and won multiple awards across 75+ festivals globally. He assisted Sanjay Leela Bhansali on ‘Bajirao Mastani’ and was selected for Serbia’s International Student Film Camp, Kyoto Filmmakers Lab- Japan, and Platform Busan- South Korea. His latest short, THE FIRST FILM, premiered at BOGOSHORTS in Colombia, winning the Audience Award at the IFF Stuttgart, Germany.

Precedes

Carefully Taught

Directed by Cynthia Kao

This film explores how U.S. policies have shaped Asian stereotypes, how the media reinforces them, and their impact on American lives.

Plays in

The Pursuit of Happiness

Oftentimes, people say that the one thing they want out of life is true happiness. This showcase features films about characters reflecting on where they are in life and whether or not they feel fulfilled. Within these stories, characters try to understand what choices they can make to pursue happiness within their life and current situation and if they are willing to take risks. From choosing a career despite parental disapproval, to searching for “the one” for marriage, to exploring new experiences despite societal expectations, to becoming a first time father, these stories demonstrate how the choices we make can shape how we go about finding what makes us feel happy and fulfilled in our lifetime.