The shimmering lights of the 12th Lakecity International Film Festival (LCIFF) danced across the halls of KES Shroff College of Arts & Commerce, as storytellers from across the globe converged to weave their tales of art, culture, and humanity. Known for its unyielding commitment to independent cinema, the festival founded by Prof. Dr. Mohan Das, once again set the stage ablaze with its celebration of diverse voices and creative visionaries.
This year’s edition was a kaleidoscope of global narratives, featuring an eclectic mix of narrative features, documentaries, and short films. Films from Italy and Australia graced the screens, with Andrea Fortis presenting the evocative ‘Femmenel’ and Matthew Kolomyjec captivating hearts with his powerhouse creation, ‘Everywhere’.
One of the festival’s highlights was Eram Faridi’s Fedora’s Wrinkles, which won Best Long Short Film for its profound exploration of aging, resilience, and the timeless beauty of life. The film also garnered accolades for its stellar performances, with Ali Asgar winning Best Actor and Sushmita Mukherjee leaving a lasting impact with her unforgettable portrayal. While ‘Revayate Nataman -E- Sima’ won the Best Iranian Film, ‘Mirari’ which came in from Paris, France won the Best Feature Film. Arfi Lamba won the Best Actor Jury Award for his amazing performance in ‘Ye Kya Ho Gaya’.
Honoring Excellence in Creativity
The award ceremony was a glittering tribute to the extraordinary
contributions of filmmakers and artists across categories. Celebrities from the
film industry and artist community graced the red carpet, creating a buzz of
excitement among the attendees. Mohammed Reza Fazel, Director of Iran Culture
House, Mumbai, and the celebrated actor-writer Atul Tiwari graced the occasion
as Chief Guests, lending their esteemed presence and stature to the event.
Adding to the evening’s enchantment, Laila Panda’s ‘Vande Mataram’ performance mesmerized the audiences with her graceful movements and flawless execution of classical Odissi sequences. To add to the enchantment, Meenal Nigam’s soulful rendition of Naam Ramayan left an indelible mark on the audience, celebrating devotion through art.
The Festival’s Vision
Prof. Dr. Mohan Das, the visionary founder and chairman of LCIFF,
reflected on the festival’s enduring mission: "The Lakecity International
Film Festival strives to be a haven for creativity, showcasing the finest films
from across the world while nurturing independent filmmakers. By celebrating
diverse voices and offering a platform to emerging talents, we aspire to foster
innovation and artistic expression in the global film industry."
The Iron Pillar of Support
Adding gravitas to the event was the conferral of the Iron Pillar Award
to Dr. (Hon) Mohit Soni, CEO of the Media & Entertainment Skills Council
(MESC), recognizing his monumental contributions to the industry. In his
absence, the award was received by MESC General Secretary, Dr. (Hon) Amit Behl,
whose eloquent acknowledgment further underscored the spirit of collaboration
and growth championed by the festival.
The Award was also conferred to KES Shroff College of Arts & Commerce who were the organizing partner, Dr. (Hon) Alok Kashyap of Yatiken Software Solutions, Nitin Dhawne Patil of Nitin Dhawne Films and Charru Sharma of YathaKatha International Film Festival. Mohammed Reza Fazel, Director of Iran Culture House, Mumbai received the Iron Pillar Award on behalf of the Culture House. For the unversed, Iran was the Country Showcase Partner for this year.
A Glimpse into the Future
The evening concluded on a high note with the unveiling of the poster
for the festival's 13th edition, scheduled for December 2025. The unveiling was
graced by stalwarts including Mohammed Reza Fazel, Atul Tiwari, Anusha Srinivasan
Iyer, Rajni Acharya, Amit Behl, and actors Karan Sharma, Arfi Lamba, Yuvraj
Parashar, Pooja Sharma, and Meenal Nigam.
As the curtains fell, LCIFF reaffirmed its role as a sanctuary for
cinematic brilliance, where stories take flight and creativity finds its
audience. With films like Fedora’s Wrinkles, Kathakaar, Ye Kya Ho Gaya, I Doll,
Femmenel, Everywhere, Khadda, Gudhal and others, the festival continues to
celebrate the resilience of human stories and the boundless spectrum of
emotions they evoke. The countdown to December 2025 has begun with the poster
release by eminent celebrities and jury members, promising another chapter in
the festival's illustrious journey.
