Mumbai – 3rd November 2025 – The 5th Edition of Culture Cinema (C2F2) concluded after three days of screenings, discussions, and cultural exchange that celebrated cinema as a vibrant reflection of human stories and shared heritage. On the closing day, the 5th Edition C2F2 Awards recognized outstanding films and filmmakers whose works stood out for their cultural relevance, storytelling strength, and creative innovation.
Mr. Tim Curtis, Director and Representative, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia emphasized the global value of such initiatives, stating, “Cinema is one of culture’s most powerful expressions. It allows us to honour our past, engage with the present and imagine a more inclusive future. Festivals like this one remind us of the creativity and diversity that unite humanity, inspiring us to safeguard the many ways people tell their stories. It also shows how cinema transcends borders, giving voice to different experiences and shared dreams. In celebrating culture through film, we celebrate humanity itself.”
In the 5th Edition C2F2, the Top Award of Film of The Festival Award was shared by Indian Film, SWARAM directed by Lijin Lohithakshan and Belgian Film HOLDING UP THE SKY directed by Pieter Van Eecke. Both the films will be sharing the prize money of USD 501, where each of them will receive USD 251 for their outstanding achievement. Both the films also won BEST Film in their respective categories, viz. SWARAM in Social Practices, and HOLDING UP THE SKY in Tribal Community category. The festival had BEST in Category Awards for 14 films, and Jury Special Mentions for 4 films.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Praveen Nagda, Festival Director of Culture Cinema (C2F2), expressed his gratitude to the participants, jury, and partners, saying, “Each year, Culture Cinema continues to grow as a platform where filmmakers and audiences come together to celebrate the beauty and complexity of culture. This edition has shown how cinema can transcend borders and generations, thereby reminding us that stories remain our strongest link to each other.”
Earlier, the closing day began with an interaction with Mr. Livingston Antony Ruben, an Indian film editor, well-known for his work in prominent Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada films including Pushpa-The Rise, and Jawaan etc. It was followed by an insightful panel discussion “Directing Change: Women Shaping the Future of Indian Cinema,” moderated by Ms. Shubha Shetty Saha and Prof. Navya Singh, featuring Ms. Akriti Singh, Prof. Malati Rao, Ms. Rupali Saxena, and Ms. Piyana Bandyopadhyay. The discussion explored representation, leadership, and the evolving female gaze in Indian cinema, setting an empowering tone for the festival’s finale.
Over its three-day run, C2F2 featured a diverse showcase of films from India, Japan, Italy, France, Brazil, and several other countries, alongside panels such as “Courage on Screen: The Business and Art of Patriotic Filmmaking” and cultural performances that blended tradition with modernity.
As the curtains come down on this milestone edition, Culture Cinema reaffirms its vision of promoting cinema as culture’s most universal language, and the one that connects people, preserves heritage, and inspires collective creativity.
Organized in collaboration with Amity University Mumbai, CIFEJ, and GMEC, the 5th Edition C2F2 reaffirmed the festival’s growing reputation as a meaningful platform for cultural dialogue through film.
LIST OF AWARD WINNERS
| Category | Best Film Details | |
| Architecture
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Name – The corridor of heaven
Country – IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF Director – Mohammad Hassan abedinezhad Producer – Mohammad Hassan abedinezhad
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| Arts & Artisans | Name – DEVI A Woven History
Country – INDIA Director – Manas Holkar Producer – Manas Holkar |
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| Biodiversity | Name – Flamingos: Life after the meteorite
Country – MEXICO Director – Lorenzo Hagerman Producer – José Cohen |
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| Cultural Taboos | Name – Spider-Zan
Country – IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF Director – Maryam Khodabakhsh Producer – Ali Tabe emam
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| Cultural Reforms | Name – Spider-Zan
Country – IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF Director – Maryam Khodabakhsh Producer – Ali Tabe emam
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| Diaspora | Name – Vinola sets the tone
Country – FRANCE Director – Marie Sushila Le Ny Producer – Les Ateliers Varan
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| Education | Name – I am Banni- Daughter of Kutch
Country – INDIA Director – Nitin Choudhary, K K Makwana Producer – Anil Garg
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| History | Name – My Radio My Life
Country – INDIA Director – Bidit Roy, Makarand Waikar Producer – Makarand Waikar
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| Music | Name – BASSNINJA film the live in the ring episode０
Country – JAPAN Director – Kenji Ogusu Producer – Quagero Imazawa
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| Philosophy | Name – From Death to Oblivion
Country – MEXICO Director – Andrés Durán Moreno Producer – Andrés Durán Moreno, Mikel de la Barcena
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| Social Practices | Name – SWARAM
Country – INDIA Director – Lijin Lohithakshan Producer – Lijin Lohithakshan
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| Sports | Name – The documentary of the 10 (Maradona)
Country – ARGENTINA Director – Lucas Martin Costa Producer – Damian Pablo Originario
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| Travel & Tourism | Name – AMAZORIOCA
Country – PORTUGAL Director – Antonio Aleixo Producer – Antonio Aleixo, Joana Madruga
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| Tribal Community | Name – Holding Up The Sky
Country – BELGIUM Director – Pieter Van Eecke Producer – Hanne Phlypo
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| Category | Best Film Details | |
| History | Name – Cheenee
Country – Trinidad and Tobago Director – ANDREAS ANTONOPOULOS Producer – ANDREAS ANTONOPOULOS, DEBOLEENA PAUL
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| Biodiversity | Name – Thar: Sacred Groves and Waterscapes
Country – INDIA Director – Pranjal Joshi Producer – Ashoka University, The Helen Hamlyn Trust
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| Cultural Taboos | Name – Light Memories
Country – ECUADOR Director – Misha Vallejo Producer – Mayfe Ortega Haboud
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| Social Practices | Name – Djurdjevdan Is Yet to Come
Country – SERBIA Director – Predrag Todorovic Producer – Predrag Todorovic |
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Indian & Belgium Films Share The Top Award At 5th Edition C2F2
