More than 120 Indian filmmakers and producers have united to establish the Independent Filmmakers Assn. of India, a not-for-profit collective designed to improve theatrical access, distribution pathways and streaming visibility for the country’s independent sector.
IFAI made its formal public debut at the Cannes Film Festival, with actor-producer Anshuman Jha and filmmaker Devashish Makhija representing the body at the announcement. Founded as a democratic, member-driven entity, IFAI will work through dedicated groups addressing advocacy, exhibition, distribution, public policy, mentorship and audience development.
The formation was partly prompted by the theatrical struggles that surrounded director Kanu Behl’s “Agra” in late 2025. The film debuted at Cannes in 2023. Despite strong critical support, it was allotted limited showtimes and minimal exhibition backing — a situation its makers came to see as emblematic of wider structural failures confronting Indian indie cinema.
“What started as a small WhatsApp conversation between a handful of filmmakers organically grew into a larger movement,” the founding members said in a joint statement. “We realized that independent films in India are surviving not because of the system, but often in spite of it. What we needed was a collective voice.”
The founding board spans a broad cross-section of India’s art-house landscape. Members include directors Aarti Kadav (“Cargo,” “Mrs.”), Alankrita Shrivastava (“Lipstick Under My Burkha,” “Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare”), Jha (“Lord Curzon Ki Haveli,” “Lakadbaggha”), Bauddhayan Mukherji (“The Violin Player,” “Manikbabur Megh”), Harsh Agarwal (“Nasir,” “Rapture”), Honey Trehan (“A Death in the Gunj,” “Punjab ’95”), Behl (“Titli,” “Agra”), Parth Saurabh (“Pokhar Ke Dunu Paar”), Ruchi Narain (“Kal,” “Hanuman Da Damdaar”) and Sudhanshu Saria (“Loev,” “Ulajh”), among others. The wider membership also includes Nandita Das and Abhay Deol.
“Independent cinema is where new voices, new forms, and uncomfortable truths emerge first,” said Behl. “We need to nurture and protect that space, for the next generation of cinematic experimentation and expression.”
Alongside its advocacy work, IFAI plans to run workshops, mentorship programs, and community initiatives for emerging talent. The body is open to directors and producers at all career stages.
“The idea is to create an ecosystem where independent filmmakers don’t feel isolated while making deeply personal cinema,” said Jha. “Beyond creating films, we hope to share resources, knowledge, collective experience around marketing, distribution and audience-building — because independent cinema in India can only grow stronger if filmmakers grow together.”
“I feel the space for the independent-spirited, alternative film is shrinking. And that bothers me,” said Shrivastava. “I feel, as a society, we need to have a vibrant cinema culture with all kinds of films. Diverse and alternate films need to have space to thrive. I’m excited to be part of a collective where filmmakers are coming together to find ways to help nurture a space and a system for these vital films.”
IFAI’s formation represents one of the most organized collective efforts yet mounted by India’s independent filmmaking community, as the sector continues to navigate shrinking theatrical windows and a more cautious streaming environment.
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