MUMBAI: The Yellowstone International Film Festival wrapped up its 2025 edition in Mumbai, concluding a week of vibrant screenings, conversations, and creative exchange. The festival once again reaffirmed its position as a home for bold, boundary-pushing narratives from India and around the world, bringing together filmmakers, cinephiles, cultural voices, and students through its thoughtfully curated programming.
This year’s showcase featured a compelling mix of international and Indian cinema across feature films, shorts, and documentary categories. Audiences were treated to stories that challenged perspectives, explored identity, and illuminated lived experiences from diverse geographies. Beyond the screen, the festival also turned into a creative classroom with masterclasses and panel discussions led by some of India’s most respected filmmakers, including Hansal Mehta, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Shoojit Sircar, among others, who shared their journeys, craft philosophies, and reflections on the future of cinema.
Anshika Singh, Festival Director, said “Yellowstone has always been about heart and this year, that heart beat stronger than ever. Curating this experience has been a privilege, and I’m grateful to our audiences, our mentors, and our partners who keep believing in the power of storytelling.”
Tushar Tyagi, Festival Founder, added saying “The films, the conversations, the energy in every room… it was all extraordinary. And so much of this brilliance is because of Anshika Singh. Her vision, attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to the filmmakers are what make this festival truly special. I’m deeply proud of her, our team, and the community that continues to grow around Yellowstone.”
While the Opening Ceremony celebrated standout films from the previous year including Mrs, Humans in The Loop and Saiyaara , the Closing Night was dedicated to honouring the competition titles from the Festivals 2025 edition, a slate of films that captured the essence of independent cinema at its finest.
Award Winners
Best Director Feature Film (International) – Wannes Destoop for Holy Rosita
Best Director Feature Film (Indian) – Ananyabrata Chakravorty for Kaisi Ye Paheli
Outstanding Performance in a Feature Film (Male) – Adil Hussain for Secret of a Mountain Serpent
Outstanding Performance in a Feature Film (Female) – Daphne Agten for Holy Rosita
Best Director Documentary Feature (Indian) – Gridaran MKP for Dalit Subbaiah – Voice of the Rebels
Best Director Documentary Feature (International) – Patrick Shannon for Saints and Warriors
Best Director Documentary Short – Jesse Samos Leaman & Maite Martin Samos for Mother of Chooks
Best Director – Indian Live Action Short – Pooja Tolani for Razaa
Best Performance – Indian Live Action Short – Geetanjali Kulkarni for Razaa
Best Director – International Live Action Short – Salar Pashtoonyar for I Fear Blue Skies
Best Animated Short – Esther Casas Roura for Flocky
Best Comedy Short – Harris Doran for Poreless
Best LGBTQIA Short – Ashutosh S. Shankar for Tara
Best Women Filmmaker – Sanaa El Alaoui for Aicha
Best Horror Short – The Neese Twins for Guardian Asshole
With its 2025 edition concluding on an inspiring note, the Yellowstone International Film Festival continues to build a space where meaningful cinema thrives and where new voices are always invited to rise.
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