The cultural landscape of Pune is set to be enriched this weekend as the Smita Patil International Film Festival (SPIFF) returns to its home at the National Film Archive of India (NFAI). The festival, dedicated to the art of short-form cinema, will commence this Saturday, offering cinephiles a curated selection of 46 films from a staggering 37 countries, all with free entry for the public.
A Decade-Long Legacy of Celebrating Short Films
Founded in 2012, SPIFF was born from a clear vision articulated by its founder, lead curator, and co-director, National Film Award-winning filmmaker Sohil Vaidya. "At a time when short films in India lacked serious exhibition platforms, SPIFF was founded with a clear and ambitious vision: to treat short films as complete cinematic works, deserving the same critical and institutional respect as feature films," Vaidya explained. The festival is a living tribute to the legendary actor Smita Patil, whose career was synonymous with artistic integrity and social consciousness.
Over the past twelve years, SPIFF has steadfastly upheld this philosophy, evolving into one of India's most respected platforms for short cinema. Under Vaidya's decade-long stewardship, the festival has built extensive international networks, transforming into a global confluence for filmmakers, actors, and producers.
A Platform for Renowned and Emerging Talent
The festival's prestige is reflected in the calibre of films and artists it has showcased. Its roster includes works by or featuring internationally acclaimed names such as Ridley Scott, Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Oscar Isaac, Konkona Sen Sharma, Naseeruddin Shah, and Ratna Pathak Shah. A point of particular pride is its early recognition of talent. Payal Kapadia, who later won the Grand Prix at Cannes, is a SPIFF alumna; her short film Afternoon Clouds won at SPIFF in 2017, years before her global breakthrough.
This year's edition continues this tradition of diverse and powerful storytelling. The festival received over 200 submissions, from which the 46 final selections were made. The chosen films hail from across India, Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, East Asia, and Southeast Asia, underscoring SPIFF's expanding global footprint. The programming boldly addresses contemporary themes like immigration, LGBTQ+ identity, minority voices, abortion rights, and artistic freedom.
Jury and Festival Leadership
The task of evaluating this international lineup falls to a distinguished jury. Sohil Vaidya will head the jury for the international films section. The Indian films segment will be judged by Savita Singh, renowned as India's first National Award-winning cinematographer. The festival is spearheaded by founder and director Dr. Abhijit Vaidya and co-founder Sohil Vaidya, who also serves as programming head.
As the two-day festival opens its doors at NFAI, it reaffirms its commitment to making profound cinematic experiences accessible to all, free of charge, while honoring the enduring legacy of Smita Patil through the powerful medium of short film.
