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Caste Gate wins the Best Documentary Award at the 6th Indic Film Utsav in Dallas
Presented by the Center for Indic Films, the Festival was held at the Galaxy Theater at Grandscape in Dallas.
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Avatans Kumar - Wed, 12, Nov 2025
- 01:29 EST
- 16
Poster of Caste Gate / Caste Gate via X
Indic Film Utsav concluded its 2025 edition, the 6th since its inception, with an inspiring showcase of Positive Cinema—stories that uplift, enlighten, and celebrate the human spirit. Presented by the Center for Indic Films, Utsav was held at the Galaxy Theater at Grandscape in Dallas. It was the first whole theatrical cinema event since its debut as a remote OTT event 5 years ago. The Utsav brought together filmmakers, audiences, and cultural thinkers for three days of screenings, panels, and conversations rooted in Indic values and universal creativity.
"Indic Film Utsav is more than a film festival — it's a movement celebrating stories that affirm life and human dignity," said Danji Thotapalli, the Festival Director. "Each of these films, whether chosen by our esteemed jury or by our audiences, reflects courage, compassion, and creativity. We're deeply proud to see the Indic spirit of storytelling resonate so powerfully across the world."
ALSO READ: 6th Indic Film Utsav announces 2025 slate: A celebration of positive cinema
Jury Awards
- Best Feature Film: Jaar, Dir. Phurba Tshering Lama
- Best Documentary: Caste Gate – The Untold Story, Dir. Vikram Mishra
- Best Short Film: Bhamakalapam, Dir. Likhitha Krishna
- Best Ultrashort Film: Geetha, Dir. Ashik Shaik
- Special Jury Mention (Feature): 87 Rupees Ink Pen, Dir. Ravi Nimbalkar
Audience Choice Awards
Festival attendees cast their votes to honor four outstanding films that captured hearts across genres:
- Best Feature: Ahana – The Light Within, Dir. Promita Bhowmik
- Best Documentary: Devi – A Woven History, Dir. Manas Holkar
- Best Short: Cowboys and Hindus, Dir. Tejal Desai
- Best Ultrashort: Gratitude, Dir. Ram Komanduri
These selections, chosen by the festival's diverse audience, reflected their appreciation for meaningful, culturally resonant, and emotionally engaging cinema, making them an integral part of the festival's success.
The Opening Night film was American Warrior, with its lead actor, Vish Ayyar, in attendance for all three days. The closing night film was 6A Akash Ganga, and the director, Nirmal Chander, was there for the Q&A.
The Jury Board for the festival featured a blend of creative and curatorial excellence:
- Gowri Sharma, Chair of the Dallas Museum of Art and a passionate cinephile with a strong visual arts perspective.
- Raj Rachakonda, Dallas-based filmmaker known for socially rooted themes and successful theatrical releases.
- Kshitiz Rai, Co-founder of Varanasi-based Prachyam, a storytelling collective blending art, film, and technology.
Indic Film Utsav celebrates Positive Cinema that uplifts, inspires, and provokes thought. Presented by the Center for Indic Films, an INDICA initiative, the Utsav provides a global platform for filmmakers who tell stories of human resilience, cultural continuity, and creative courage. Indic Film Utsav has showcased over 300 Indic-themed films in the past five years. INDICA is a US-based non-profit institution for Indian Knowledge Systems.
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