TLDR: The Fest5 International Film Festival (F5IFF’25) has been inaugurated in Kolkata, featuring 30 selected films from 69 countries. The four-day festival emphasizes cinema, culture, and climate consciousness, introducing new categories like the Satyajit Ray Student Film Awards and focusing on youth engagement.
The Fest5 International Film Festival (F5IFF’25) opened today with great enthusiasm at the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) Auditorium, Kolkata, marking the beginning of a four-day celebration of cinema, culture, and climate consciousness. The festival is being held from 5th to 8th September. This year, F5IFF received over 550 film submissions from 69 countries, reflecting its fast-growing international recognition, with 30 films selected for screening.
After the resounding success of its debut edition last year, F5IFF returns with an expanded vision, stronger participation, and a sharper thematic focus on environmental concerns and climate change – issues that resonate globally and define the festival’s identity.
The festival was inaugurated by acclaimed actress and Padma Shri awardee Mamata Shankar, Actress and was attended by: Smt. Gauri Basu, Former Director EZCC; Prof. Manoshi Roychowdhury, Co-Chairperson, Techno India Group; Dr. Amit Ghosh, Deputy Director of Anthropological Survey of India; Prof. Shalini Lihitkar, DLIS of Nagpur University & many others eminent personalities.
Speaking to the media, Padma Shri awardee Mamata Shankar, Actress, expressed her pride in being associated with F5IFF’25. “Cinema has always been a mirror to society, and a festival like F5IFF, with its focus on environment, climate change, and human dignity, is deeply relevant in today’s times. Through this festival, voices from across the world come together to speak for nature, culture, and humanity. F5IFF is more than a festival, it is a movement that inspires us to think, to feel, and to act for a better tomorrow,”.
On this Occasion, Mr. Sourav De, F5IFF Director, said, “We are overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of filmmakers across the world in recognising our festival and participating with unmatched vigour. F5IFF is building a platform where independent voices find space alongside global cinema. This year’s themes reflect our commitment to both social relevance and cultural heritage. With the introduction of new categories such as the Satyajit Ray Student Film Awards, Bibliophilia, and Films on Anthropology, we are ensuring that the festival becomes not only a cinematic showcase but also a cultural movement.”
The Anthropological Survey of India welcomed the collaboration, with Prof. B.V. Sharma, Director, AnSI, remarking, “The festival’s focus on environment and climate change resonates deeply with our mission of understanding the relationship between communities and their ecological settings. Cinema has the power to transcend boundaries, and F5IFF’25 provides a platform where culture, science, and sustainability come together for a global audience.”
The 2025 edition places a special emphasis on youth engagement and education, forging partnerships with leading universities across Kolkata. Across its four days, F5IFF’25 will bring together filmmakers, cinephiles, distributors, producers, and cultural leaders from around the world for screenings, discussions, and networking opportunities, positioning Kolkata at the heart of global cinema with a conscience.
