The annual he Rainbow International Film Festival is once again set is motion. Organised by the Rainbow Film Society, the 26th edition of the festival will begin on Sunday, May 25 2025.
This year’s event will showcase a total of 37 films in 11 different languages from 11 countries. The lineup includes 23 feature films and 14 short films. Participating countries are: Bangladesh, India, Italy, Iran, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Spain, and the USA.
Languages featured in the screenings include: Bengali, Garhwali, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Mayan, Persian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Russian.
The opening and closing ceremonies will be held at Genesis Cinema, located on Mile End Road in East London, on Sunday, May 25 and Sunday, June 1, respectively.
The opening film, to be screened at Genesis Cinema on Sunday, May 25, is the much-talked-about Indian Bengali film “Shotti Bole Shotti Kichu Nei” directed by Srijit Mukherji, starring Kaushik Ganguly, Parambrata Chatterjee, and Falguni Chatterjee.
On the closing day, Sunday, June 1, Genesis Cinema will screen the film “Ei Raat Tomar Amar” featuring the renowned actors Aparna Sen and Anjan Dutt.
The selected films aim to highlight meaningful and engaging cinema suitable for a multicultural society.
Aside from the opening and closing days (May 25 and June 1), the main festival screenings will run continuously from Monday, May 26 to Saturday, May 31.
From Monday, May 26 to Saturday, May 31, two films will be screened daily at 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. All screenings are free of charge and will take place at the Arts One Building of Queen Mary University, located on Mile End Road.
Jury Panel of 26th Rainbow Film Festival include Dr Clelia Clini, Lecturer at London Metropolitan University, Dr Amit S. Rai, Queen Mary University of London, Pulak Gupta, renowned journalist, Kazi Ruksana Begum, Arts Development Officer, Borough of Tower Hamlets, Sadek Ahmed Chowdhury, film critic and Alexander Jackson, Rich Mix Centre.
Based on the jury's decisions, awards will be presented across various categories. The award ceremony will take place at Genesis Cinema on Sunday, June 1.
