Women in Film India Partners with I&B Ministry & NFDC to Spotlight Six Women-Led Projects at Toronto International Film Festival 2025

Swati Bhat

In a groundbreaking move to elevate women’s voices in cinema, Women in Film (WIF) India, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s WAVES Film Bazaar and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), will select six women-led Indian film projects to be showcased at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025.

The initiative, titled #WIFIndiaAtTIFF, reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of empowering women through creativity and entrepreneurship. Led by Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga Kapoor, WIF India is calling for entries from filmmakers across India — each project must feature at least one woman in a key creative role.

“This is not just a delegation, it’s a declaration — Indian women in film are owning the global stage,” said Guneet Monga Kapoor, Founder of WIF India.

Selected filmmakers will gain access to TIFF 2025, mentorship from industry experts, and opportunities to network with international producers, distributors, and festival curators.

Entries are open until August 20, 2025, via the official WIF India website. The chosen six projects will represent India’s diverse storytelling spirit at TIFF 2025, running from September 4–14, 2025, marking a historic moment for women in Indian cinema.

https://womeninfilmindia.org/

#TIFF #event #entertainment #WIF #NFDC

Artificial Intelligence at the Forefront of Biennale Architettura 2025

The Exhibition is pleased to present two new digital companions: Spatial Intelligens, developed by sub, a transdisciplinary architecture and design studio led by Niklas Bildstein Zaar, and In Other Words, produced by VOLUME, one of the featured participants.

Pritish Bagdi

Artificial intelligence takes center stage at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective, curated by Carlo Ratti and organized by La Biennale di Venezia. Open until November 23, 2025, it features a GENS Public Programme and introduces two new digital companions. Spatial Intelligens, developed by sub, and In Other Words, by VOLUME, extend the curatorial theme, inviting visitors to explore architectural ideas and question knowledge organization within cultural institutions.

Artificial Intelligence at Work AI has been used for summarizing texts, generating captions, and assisting with wayfinding. These tools transition from logistical support to public engagement, making the Exhibition a responsive system.

“The Biennale becomes a living lab,” says Carlo Ratti, “a place for asking new questions”.

SUB’s Spatial Intelligens

Spatial Intelligens, an AI-powered digital twin by sub, enhances the Exhibition with personalized visitor interactions and a conversational AI. Accessible via mobile devices, it provides a personalized journey map, transforming individual experiences into collective architectural understanding.

Niklas Bildstein Zaar, sub: “This project redefines exhibitions, showcasing architecture in a living dialogue. Spatial Intelligens embodies the Biennale’s spirit: architecture as a living, evolving system.”

VOLUME - Ultimate Biennale Companion: In Other Words...

In Other Words, part of VOLUME’s Bursting Bubbles initiative, uses AI to mediate between expert discourse and cultural engagement. It offers an AI-generated audio guide with diverse perspectives, creating a polyphonic reading of the Biennale. Available as a podcast on Spotify, it also includes reimagined Venetian souvenirs questioning symbol circulation.

Stephan Petermann, VOLUME editor: “This experiment explores AI’s impact on storytelling, challenging archetypal writing in design exhibitions.”

La Biennale as a living laboratory

Both tools are part of a broader experimental ecology at the Biennale Architettura 2025, emphasizing knowledge production and infrastructural imagination. Ratti notes, “The use of AI invites rethinking authorship and collaboration, addressing architecture’s future in an age of algorithmic mediation.”

#metatainment #art #event2025 #BiennaleArchitettura2025 #event #volume #ai

Celebrating Excellence: List of National Film Awards 2025 Winners

The 71st National Film Awards honored exceptional contributions to cinema. Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey both received the Best Actor award for their performances in Jawan and 12th Fail, respectively. Rani Mukerji was awarded Best Actress for her role in Mrs. Chatterjee Vs. Norway. The awards highlighted a variety of films and talents from India's diverse regional cinema scene.

The National Film Awards represent one of the most esteemed accolades in Indian cinema. Annually presented by the Government of India, these awards celebrate excellence in filmmaking, acknowledging the finest films, performances, and technical accomplishments across a variety of languages and genres. 

Distinguished from other awards, the National Film Awards are renowned for their impartial and merit-based selection process. Eligibility is granted to films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1 and December 31 of the preceding year.

The awards are determined by a jury appointed by the Directorate of Film Festivals and are conferred by the President of India. Receiving a National Film Award is regarded as a significant achievement by both filmmakers and actors.

This article will explore the complete list of National Film Awards 2025 winners, including prominent categories such as Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, and more.

Winners of the 71st National Film Awards 2025

The following individuals and films have been recognized as winners at the 71st National Film Awards, as announced by the National Film Awards committee:

Category	Winner(s)	Film(s)
Best Actor	Shah Rukh Khan Vikrant Massey	Jawan 12th Fail
Best Actress	Rani Mukerji	Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway
Best Supporting Actor	Vijayaraghavan Muthupettai Somu Bhaskar	Pookkalam Parking
Best Supporting Actress	Urvashi Janaki Bodiwala	Ullozhukku Vash
Best Feature Film	-	12th Fail
Best Film in Hindi	-	Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery
Best Film in Telugu	-	Bhagavanth Kesari
Best Film in Tamil	-	Parking
Best Film in Punjabi	-	Godday Godday Chaa
Best Film in Odia	-	Pushkara
Best Film in Marathi	-	Shyamchi Aai
Best Film in Malayalam	-	Ullozhukku
Best Film in Kannada	-	Kandeelu: The Ray of Hope
Best Film in Gujarati	-	Vash
Best Film in Bengali	-	Deep Fridge
Best Film in Assamese	-	Rongatapu 1982
Best Direction	Sudipto Sen	The Kerala Story
Best Choreography	Vaibhavi Merchant	Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
Best Action Direction	Nandu and Prudhvi	Hanu-Man
Best Lyrics	Kasarla Shyam	Balagam
Best Music Direction	G.V. Prakash Kumar (Songs)Harshavardhan Rameshwar (BGM)	VaathiAnimal
Best Male Playback Singer	P.V.N. S. Rohit	Baby
Best Female Playback Singer	Shilpa Rao	Jawan
Best Cinematography	Prasanthanu Mohapatra	The Kerala Story
Best Editing	Midhun Murali	Pookkaalam
Best Sound Design	Sachin Sudhakaran, Hariharan	Animal
Best Production Design	Mohandas	2018 - Everyone is a Hero
Best Make-up	Shrikanth Desai	Sam Bahadur
Best Costume Designer	Sachin, Divya, Nidhhi	Sam Bahadur
Special Mention	M.R. Radhakrishnan (Re-recording mixer)	Animal

#entertainment #nationalaward2025 #event