WIFF’s Second Monthly Pre-Festival Screening: Where Stories Found Their Heartbeat and Conversations Sparked New Dreams — A Celebration of Independent Spirit, Storytelling Power, and Community Building.  Daily Eye #Newsdesk Reports.
WIFF’s Second Monthly Pre-Festival Screening, held on April 26, 2025, at Rangshila Theatre, Mumbai, was a vibrant celebration of independent cinema, bold storytelling, and community spirit. Showcasing two powerful short films — Anaar Daana by Nishi Dugar and Goolar Ke Phool by Aronn Miitr — the event seamlessly blended cinematic excellence with heartfelt discussions on rural realities, personal storytelling, and the power of authentic voices. With distinguished guests like Sanjay Mishra, Ashok Pathak, Amit Behl and Kabeer Khurana sharing insights, and the co-founders of WIFF — Deepa Gahlot, Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri, Avneesh Mishra and Vinta Nanda — leading the charge, the screening reaffirmed WIFF’s mission to create a vibrant platform for fearless, independent filmmakers. As conversations flowed from the theatre to Sathe’s Café, the spirit of creativity and collaboration continued to build momentum, setting the stage for an even bigger celebration at WIFF’s main festival in October 2025.

On a vibrant Saturday morning, April 26, 2025, Rangshila Theatre in Versova, Mumbai, buzzed with excitement as the Waterfront Indie Film Festival (WIFF) hosted its second Monthly Pre-Festival Screening event. As the festival moves steadily toward its inaugural edition in October, these pre-festival gatherings are already creating a strong sense of community around the cause of regionally rooted independent storytelling.

The afternoon opened with a warm welcome to filmmakers, cinephiles, and curious new audiences. The program featured two exceptional short films: Anaar Daana, directed by Nishi Dugar, and Goolar Ke Phool, directed by Aronn Miitr — each offering sensitive portrayals of rural life, memory and family.

Introducing Anaar Daana, director Nishi Dugar shared a touching backstory. The film was shot in the ancestral home of a friend’s grandfather, and her own parents and relatives appear in the film, adding a layer of authenticity and intimacy. As a cinematographer herself, Nishi revealed that she first envisioned Anaar Daana in a series of images before writing it as a script. Reflecting on the challenges of working with child actors, she noted, “Children tend to disregard instructions, so the director and cinematographer have to be ready to work around their spontaneous actions.” She thanked WIFF for screening Anaar Daana, calling it "really encouraging to have our short film getting such a lively audience," and extended heartfelt thanks to Vinta Nanda, Deepa Gahlot, and Avneesh Mishra, the co-founders of WIFF, for hosting the event. "See you at the next round of screenings," she signed off with enthusiasm. Nishi’s team was present at the screening, including cinematographer Ashwin Ameri, editor Pavan Theurkar, and associate editor River Ghosh.

Following this deeply personal film was Goolar Ke Phool, a tender, sharply observed piece set against the backdrop of rural India. Director Aronn Miitr, drawing from his rich theatre background and his own observations of village life, crafted a narrative that laid bare the struggles of the rural poor. He reflected, “Everybody wants their food, but nobody cares about the farmer,” a sentiment that underpins the emotional heart of the film. Miitr described the screening at WIFF as “an unforgettable experience,” expressing gratitude to the festival organizers for not only providing a platform but also encouraging meaningful post-screening conversations. “Films are usually watched and left behind, but here we had the rare opportunity to dive into meaningful discussions about the issues they addressed,” he said. Quoting veteran actor Sanjay Mishra, who starred in Goolar Ke Phool, Miitr echoed the idea that “cinema is not just entertainment, but a powerful medium to initiate discussions on social issues.” Present with Miitr at the screening were DOP Navagat Prakash Sharma, Line Producer Ravikant Sinha, Associate Writer Pramod Sharma, and Colorist Ravi K. Parashar.

Veteran actor Sanjay Mishra, known for his nuanced performances in films like Kadvi Hawa and Ankhon Dekhi, spoke candidly during the panel discussion. He acknowledged that while he loves doing rooted, true-to-life films that audiences increasingly appreciate, he also works in commercial entertainers like Dhamaal and Bhool Bhulaiyaa to maintain balance as an actor. His co-star Ashok Pathak shared that working alongside Mishra had been a tremendous learning experience. Cinematographer Navagat Prakash Sharma elaborated on the technical challenges faced while shooting Goolar Ke Phool, especially around using natural light within a single location setting, which demanded both precision and adaptability.

Deepa Gahlot, WIFF’s Festival Director, underlined the growing importance of short films in today’s cinematic landscape. “The talent, ingenuity and ability to tell a story with all its emotional nuances in the short film format is visible in the little gems that now have opportunities for screening online and offline. Some of them, like Anaar Daana and Goolar Ke Phool, screened at WIFF's monthly event, leave a strong impact,” she said, reinforcing WIFF's mission to champion independent voices.

Adding further energy to the afternoon, Kabeer Khurana, filmmaker, academic, and WIFF Advisory Board member, addressed the packed audience. He spoke about the increasingly crucial role short films play in allowing storytellers to experiment fearlessly and tell distinctive, daring stories. As a curator of regular screenings at The Nest in Bandra, Khurana brought his perspective on how short-form cinema is becoming more popular and gaining deeper resonance with younger audiences.

Avneesh Mishra, co-founder of WIFF and director of Rangshila Theatre, shared the broader vision behind the creation of the theatre complex — a dynamic space for innovation and collaboration. Speaking passionately, he said that Rangshila must become a hub for fearless artistic expression, and that WIFF aims to create a platform where independent filmmakers and artists can feel at home, unafraid to experiment, connect, and engage

.After the screenings and the insightful panel discussion, the event continued informally at Sathe’s — the café adjoining Rangshila Theatre. The venue was abuzz with conversations over a casual lunch, where filmmakers, cinematographers, writers, and cinephiles mingled. A mini-reunion of FTII alumni also took place, with cinematographer Dharam Gulati and writer Indroneil Kaashyap catching up with Nishi Dugar’s team. Aronn Miitr and his team shared laughs and cold coffees with several attendees, creating a lively, heartwarming "adda" atmosphere. The organisers too, Deepa Gahlot, Avnessh Mishra and Vinta Nanda sat in conversation with the attendees, and Nandita Puri added more life to the celebratory atmosphere. Interestingly, the Saturday event drew a considerable number of corporate professionals as well, many of whom expressed gratitude to WIFF for organizing such inspiring gatherings.

The event’s tickets were available on BookMyShow at ₹250, inclusive of a ₹100 redeemable coupon for Sathe’s. In addition to this thoughtful perk, WIFF offered attending filmmakers a 25% waiver on film submission fees for the inaugural edition of the Waterfront Indie Film Festival through FilmFreeway — a move that was met with great enthusiasm.

As Deepa Gahlot, Avneesh Mishra, Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri, and Vinta Nanda gear up for the May 2025 (third) pre-festival event, the excitement among the artistic community continues to grow. Promising even more benefits and opportunities for filmmakers, WIFF is rapidly becoming a vital platform for new voices to be seen and heard.

With the Early Bird submissions open until April 30, 2025, filmmakers have the chance to be part of this groundbreaking initiative. Submissions can be made at https://filmfreeway.com/WaterfrontIndieFilmFestival.
The second WIFF Monthly Pre-Festival Screening has proven once again that cinema is not just about storytelling — it is about forging connections, sparking conversations, and nurturing a community of dreamers, doers, and changemakers.

The Waterfront Indie Film Festival is well on its way to becoming one of India’s most exciting new cultural movements. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.