CineV - CHD Unveils Three New Segments at CineVester International Film Festival 2025

By Shantiswarup Tripathi

The second edition of CineV - CHD, held during the CineVester International Film Festival at the Grand Hyatt in Chandigarh from March 20 to 23, 2025, introduced three exciting new segments: ProofPoint, In the Works Lab, and CineV Spotlight.

Designed for filmmakers wishing to expand their short films into full-length features, ProofPoint focuses on proof-of-concept films, which are short films envisioned as the foundation for future feature-length stories. This is the first edition dedicated to the South Asian market.

Curated by Leena Khobragade, ProofPoint selected 17 short films in 10 Indian languages, each showcasing the potential to evolve into captivating feature films. These include Kenny Basumatary’s Joka-Man, Anupama Chopra’s produced Tuition Pilot, Sushma Khadepon's Anita (which premiered at the Venice Film Festival), and Nitin Baid’s Chashma (editor of Gully Boy, Masan, Raazi, and 83).

In the Works Lab is a mentorship program aimed at supporting independent filmmakers in the rough-cut stage by providing guidance from both Indian and international film professionals.

Rucha Pathak has curated six projects in the rough-cut stage for In the Works Lab, which includes four narratives and two documentaries:

Kikaran De Phool (Babool Ke Phool) directed by Anmol Sidhhu
The Good, The Bad, and The Hungry directed by Vivek Kumar
Kangbo E Loti (The Lost Path) directed by Khangan Kishore Nath
Sat Asat (Two Ways of Being) directed by Soumitra Ranade
I’m Not Home (Documentary) directed by Naveen Pun
Mahjabeen (Documentary) directed by Geetika Narang Abbasi

The projects are being mentored by industry experts such as Siddharth Meer (Producer), Shonali Bose (Amu, Margarita with a Straw, The Sky is Pink), Nitin Baid (Editor and Director), and Killian Kerwin (Producer).

Leena Khobragade, the curator of ProofPoint, says, “We are thrilled with the overwhelming number of submissions for the first-ever platform of its kind in India. This carefully curated selection showcases the incredible diversity of South Asian storytelling, highlighting a vibrant range of languages, cultures, and cinematic voices. These 17 proof-of-concept films have the potential to evolve into powerful feature-length narratives, shedding light on the depth of talent across the region. We are excited to present these concepts at CineV’s film market.”

Rucha Pathak, curator of In the Works Lab and CineV Spotlight, adds, “We are thrilled to present six incredible films, including four feature narratives and two documentaries, showcasing a dynamic mix of experienced filmmakers and promising debutants. Both In the Works Lab and CineV Spotlight serve as platforms for filmmakers to explore and refine their vision. In the Works Lab is a space where creatives at the rough-cut stage can share challenges, collaborate, and gain fresh perspectives from mentors who are equally passionate about storytelling. Similarly, CineV Spotlight at its second year highlights films with extraordinary stories, relevance, and powerful narratives. These films, often overlooked by mainstream cinema, offer a glimpse into worlds that celebrate India’s rich multicultural tapestry through stories told in various languages. Together, these segments provide audiences with a unique cinematic experience that both entertains and challenges perspectives.”

In the Works Lab selected six projects:

Kikaran De Phool (Flowers of Acacia) directed by Anmol Sidhhu (Feature Narrative)
The Good, The Bad, and The Hungry directed by Vivek Kumar (Feature Narrative)
Kangbo E Loti (The Lost Path) directed by Khangan Kishore Nath (Feature Narrative)
Sat Asat (Two Ways of Being) directed by Soumitra Ranade (Feature Narrative)
I’m Not Home directed by Naveen Pun (Documentary)
Mahjabeen directed by Geetika Narang Abbasi (Documentary)

ProofPoint selected 17 films:

Aasmani Jhoola (The Giant Wheel of Life) – Hindi film produced by Keshav Naidu and directed by Mohammad Ali Rukadikar
Anita – Hindi film produced by Dimpy Agrawal and directed by Sushma Khadepon (A collaboration between India and the US)
Automagic – Kannada film produced by Claire Chesgny and directed by Ashok Vish (A collaboration between France and India)
Chashma (Blindspot) – Hindi film produced by Dimpy Agrawal and directed by Nitin Baid
Chhaya – Haryanvi film produced by Chirag Balani and directed by Utsav Utsav
Difficult Men – Hindi film produced by Poorv Naresh and directed by Asmit Pathare
Joka-Man (Khopdi-Man) – Hindi, Marathi, Urdu film directed by Kenny Basumatary
Kamathipura – Assamese and Hindi film produced by Wasim Khan and Priya Sridharan, directed by Ayushman Pandey
Khooh Wala Ghar – Punjabi film produced and directed by Avinash Roy and Jasmine Kaur Roy
Kurinjiroo (The Vanishing Flower) – Malayalam film produced by Pooja Kohli Taneja and Sonali Bawa, directed by Payal Sethi (A collaboration between Germany and India)
Maybapache Ashirwad (Blessings) – Marathi film produced by Sumit Kanjilal and directed by Apurva Bardapurkar
Maya – Hindi film produced by Navjot Gulati, Ghalib Dutta, and Navneet Singh Gujral, directed by Vikas Chandra
Takiya Baat – English film produced by Ira Dubey and directed by Mark Bennington
Sab Theek Hai – Hindi film produced and directed by Mansi Jain (A collaboration between India and the US)
Thane Ka Kasai – Hindi and English film produced by Urvashi Saxena and directed by Aradhya Dev Shandilya
Tuition Pilot – Hindi and Pahadi film produced by Anupama Chopra and directed by Shubham Negi
Wagh (Leopard) – Marathi film produced and directed by Murti Krishnan

CineV Spotlight selected six films:

Tingal Belku (The Light for the Rest of the Walk) – Kannada film produced by Vinayak Kodsara and directed by Naresh Kumar Hegde
Swaha (In the Name of Fire) – Magahi film directed by Abhilash Sharma and Vikas Sharma
Khidki Gaw (If on a Winter's Night) – Hindi and Malayalam film directed by Sanju Surendran
Ye Mera Ghar (My Home) – Hindi film produced by Mayank Rai and Toshali Das, directed by Prabodh Bhajani
Theater - The Myth of Reality – Malayalam comedy, drama, fantasy, thriller, and wildlife film produced by Anjana Philip and directed by Sajin Babu
Umaal – Marathi film directed by Siddharth Badi

Read also:

• Amitabh Bachchan Feels Proud, Praises Abhishek Bachchan’s Latest Film
• Savi Thakur on Rishto Se Bandhi Gauri: Relating to Rudra’s Deep Family Love
• Ultra Jhakaas Unveils Raakh: High-Stakes Crime Thriller Premiering March 21
• Salman Khan’s Nephew Ayaan Agnihotri Rejects Nepotism Tag, Calls It Unfair

Tags : Opening film – 'A Normal Family' | World Cinema section highlights | Partnership with IFFLA | CIFF 2025 dates and venue