The Indian Film Festival 2025 is taking place in Netanyahu, Israel, creating a buzz with its glamorous showcase of Indian cinema for Israeli audiences. This festival was organized by the Embassy of India in collaboration with Movieland Netanya and received the viewing of six acclaimed films, including Kiran Rao’s ‘Laapataa Ladies’ in one of the top Indian film nominations at the 2025 Academy Awards.
The Festival is part of a more extensive objective to establish India as a film-production hub for further foreign filmmakers. Running for about five years until March 8, the festival tries to highlight the creativity and culture of Indian cinema.
Bollywood Films on the List
‘Mimi,’ ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,’ ‘777 Charlie’, and ‘English Vinglish’ were included in the list. Each encapsulates a piece of India’s heritage, contemporary challenges, and storytelling talent. The opening screening of ‘Laapataa Ladies’ received huge applause.
Israeli journalist Lev Aran expressed his thoughts on the festival with PTI, “I laughed and cried and had no control over my emotions as the beautifully crafted movie kept me spellbound all along. I had no control over my emotions.”
The Embassy of India shared on Instagram a post, writing, “Grand inauguration of India Film Fest 2025 in Israel! ???? Indian Film ‘Laapataa Ladies’ screened at Movieland, Netanya. Ambassador-designate JP Singh, Deputy Mayor of Netanya Adir Benyamini, actors Tsahi Halevi & Aki Avni, and movie lovers attended the event. @mib_india @meaindia.”
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India’s Ambassador to Israel, JP Singh, expressed the role of the Indian Film Festival. Singh told, “As we celebrate these films, I am hopeful that this film festival shall not only provide a glimpse of quality entertainment to the audiences here but also pave the way for further cooperation between the film industries of our two countries.”
He said India is committed to becoming a global hub for film production with profit incentives for worldwide filmmakers, such as reimbursement of up to 40% of production costs. JP Singh urged Israeli filmmakers to work cooperatively with Indian producers, as well as to appear in WAVES 2025 in Mumbai, set for May 1 through 4, 2025.
