UK Asian Film Festival – the world’s longest running South Asian film festival – has unveiled the full programme of its 27th edition and it is an outstanding. Running at venues across London, Leicester and Coventry UKAFF opens Thursday May 1st and runs through Sunday 11th May.
This year’s “Longing and Belonging” theme will celebrate cinema that explores one of the most profound human experiences—the search for connection, identity and purpose. In every corner of the world, people grapple with feelings of longing—the ache for love; the pull of home; the need for acceptance; and the pursuit of meaning. Through the lens of cinema, these universal desires come to life in stories of displaced immigrants; journeys of self-discovery; quests for love; and the tension between tradition and modernity. As society moves forward, cinema remains a powerful tool for change—one that sparks conversations, amplifies voices and builds empathy.
UK Asian Film Festival Founder and Director, Dr Pushpinder Chowdhry MBE says, “This year’s theme of Longing & Belonging strikes a powerful chord in our divided world. Through this evocative programme, we honour stories of resilience, identity, and connection—especially from voices that have long been sidelined. With British Asian talent finally gaining overdue visibility and our company now a registered charity, this marks a transformative moment. We invite audiences to join us in celebrating artists who reflect the complexity and beauty of our shared human experience.”
The Opening Gala will take place at BFI Southbank, London on Thursday 1st May, featuring the European Premiere of the powerful anthology, My Melbourne (Australia, 2024; Dir’s: Onir, Rima Das, Imtiaz Ali, Kabir Khan; Language: English, Bengali, Hindi, Dari, Auslan). A bold and moving celebration of diversity, the anthology explores identity, belonging and resilience through four true stories of underrepresented voices in Australia—a queer man reconnecting with his father; a deaf dancer chasing her dream; a food blogger bonding with a homeless poet; and a refugee girl finding hope through cricket. In attendance will be directors, Imtiaz Ali and Onir.
The Closing Film will be the London Premiere of the Academy Award-nominated The Glassworker, (Pakistan, 2024; Dir: Usman Riaz; Language: English) on Saturday 10th May at BFI Southbank, London. As war looms, a gifted glassmaker and his father see their world disrupted by an army colonel and his violinist daughter. When love blossoms between the young artists, they must find the courage to stand up to their fathers. Director, Usman Riaz, will be attending. An additional screening will take place on Sunday 11th May at Phoenix Cinema, Leicester.
The festival’s Closing Gala on Sunday 11th May at Riverside Studios, London will present the annual UK Asian Film Festival Awards. As part of the award ceremony, legendary music producer and composer known for global disco hits and pioneering Indian pop music, Biddu, will be receiving the Golden Flame Lifetime Achievement Award. The In Focus Q&A’s will welcome luminaries from Indian cinema in conversation onstage with — Biddu; director, Sandhya Suri, British-Indian filmmaker known for her intimate, socially resonant storytelling across documentary and fiction; Shobhaa De, trailblazing Indian novelist and columnist, known for her bold depictions of urban elite life. They will be felicitated at the Awards Gala alongside celebrated writer, filmmaker, and broadcaster whose work bridges cultures through powerful storytelling, Yavar Abbas. Imitiaz Ali, celebrated Indian filmmaker known for his poetic storytelling and deep explorations of love, identity and self-discovery; and Onir, award-winning Indian filmmaker and LGBTQI trailblazer, known for bold, compassionate storytelling on themes of identity, love and human rights, will also be in attendance.
As part of the festival’s LGBTQ strand this year, the Gala Screening of We Are Faheem and Karun (India, 2024; Dir: Onir; Language: Kashmiri, Hindi, English, Malayalam with English subtitles) will take place on Friday 2nd May at Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry. The first Kashmiri-language feature to centre on a LGBTQ romance, the film follows the story of a chance encounter between a South Indian officer and a local Kashmiri man that blossoms into a tender, secret romance in the border village of Gurez. Additional screenings will take place on Tuesday 6th May at Garden Cinema, London and Thursday 8th May at Phoenix Cinema, Leicester followed by Q&A with director, Onir.
The UK Premiere of The Collaborator (USA, 2024; Dir: Travis Hodgkins; Language: English) will take place on Friday 2nd May, at Kiln Theatre, London. The film is based on Mirza Waheed’s acclaimed novel, which tells the gripping tale of a village youth sent into a conflict zone to recover weapons and ID’s amid the 1990s Kashmir war. In attendance will be actors, Nikhil Singh Rai and Meera Ganatra.
Headhunting to Beatboxing (India, 2024; Dir: Rohit Gupta; Language: English/Nagamese with English Subtitles) will take place on Saturday 3rd May at BFI Southbank, London. Supported by two-time Academy Award winner A.R. Rahman, it is a powerful musical documentary tracing the transformation of a once-violent tribe in North East India. Through the healing power of music, the community emerges from a history of bloodshed into a vibrant cultural renaissance. The film captures a journey of resilience, identity, and the unifying rhythm that redefines a people through sound.
The UK Premiere of The Umesh Chronicles (India, 2024; Dir: Pooja Kaul; Language: Hindi, Kashmiri, English with English subtitles) will take place on Saturday 3rd May at Rich Mix, London. The film is a poetic, coming-of-age drama set in 1980’s India, following Radha’s quest to find a missing boy and confront the true meaning of freedom. The film features Amitabh Bachchan and Babil Khan in leading roles and is produced by Shoojit Sircar (Piku) and Ronnie Lahiri (Sardar Udham).
Part of the festival’s Documentary strand will be a screening of Kids Fight (2025) and Her Right To Play (2024) on Monday 5th May at Garden Cinema, London. Kids Fight is a powerful documentary that follows Lahore’s youth as they find strength and purpose through MMA, transforming a gym into a lifeline. The film, Her Right To Play, follows Pakistan’s women’s football team and its inspiring journey from an eight-year ban to fierce contendership for Olympic glory.
The UK Premiere of Parikrama (India/Italy, 2025; Dir: Goutam Ghose; Language: English, Hindi, Italian with English subtitles) will take place on Wednesday 7th May at Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry. The film follows an Italian filmmaker’s journey along the Narmada River intertwines with a young villager’s fight for dignity, exploring themes of loss, belonging, and human connection. An additional screening will take place on and on Thursday 8th May at Garden Cinema, London. Both screenings will be followed by a Q&A with director, Goutam Ghose.
A Special Tribute Screening of late legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal’s Mandi (India, 1983; Dir: Shyam Benegal; Language: Hindi with English subtitles) will take place on Friday 9th May at SOAS, London. The event will feature a screening of this satirical classic, celebrating his powerful and ahead-of-their-time portrayals of women, hosted by cultural icon, Shobhaa De. Director, Goutam Ghose will be a part of the panel. This tribute will offer an insightful exploration of Benegal’s iconic female protagonists.
The UK Premiere of Pushtaini (India, 2024; Dir: Vinod Rawat; Language: Hindi with English subtitles) will take place on Saturday 10th May at Phoenix Cinema, Leicester. The film follows a struggling Bollywood actor forced to return to his home and face his past, travelling through the Himalayan mountains and sharing adventures with strangers, unaware of what the journey has in store for him. The film has been supported by Bollywood Icon, Hrithik Roshan, and features acclaimed actor, Rajkummar Rao, in a leading role.
The Special Screening of Sister Midnight (UK, 2024; Dir: Karan Kandhari; Language: Hindi with English subtitles) will take place on Saturday 10th May at BFI Southbank, London. The film follows a quirky, newlywed couple as they navigate awkward intimacy, nosy neighbours and personal oddities, as Uma (Radhika Apte) confronts her own eccentricities amidst the city’s vibrant nightlife. The screening will be part of the India-UK Co-Productions Panel.
The screening of documentary Kehta Hai Joker (So Says The Joker) (India; Dir: Bobby Bedi; Language: Hindi with English subtitles) will take place on Sunday 11th May at Riverside Studios, London during the Closing Awards Gala ceremony. This compelling documentary explores legendary showman Raj Kapoor’s life and cinematic legacy through rare footage and interviews with his family and renowned filmmakers. Honoured with India’s highest film award, Kapoor’s influence on Indian cinema remains unparalleled. This screening offers a rare glimpse into the journey of a true icon whose work continues to inspire generations. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director, Bobby Bedi.
UK Asian Film Festival showcases a diverse selection of films each year, alongside a compelling lecture series, interactive audience workshops, live performances, visual arts exhibitions and masterclasses. It also hosts the annual Short Film Competition, celebrating the finest films connected to South Asia while highlighting the rich and varied facets of South Asian arts and culture.
Creative Minds of Tomorrow at BFI Southbank, London on Saturday 3rd May will present a dynamic series of workshops designed to nurture emerging talent and provide invaluable insights into careers within the creative industries. Through interactive sessions covering a wide range of disciplines—from writing and producing to curating—participants will have the opportunity to engage with industry professionals; develop essential skills; and explore potential career pathways. Following the workshops, the day will culminate with the Long Shorts, featuring films including Cuppa Chai (Dir: Amit Kaur); If (Dir: Tathagata Ghosh); A Little Bit of Glitter (Dir: Siddharth Menon); Jamie’s Wager (Dir: Sean Kardar); The Send Off (Dir: Amina Imran) and Don’t Be Late, Myra (Dir: Afia Serena Nathaniel). The festival will also screen the winning short films from the student’s Short Film Festival organised by Queen Mary University of London and Christ University in March 2025.
Sholay: 50 Years Later marks the Golden Jubilee Of Sholay, from Monday 5 — Friday 9th May at Nehru Centre, London. It will be an immersive exhibition that showcases exclusive memorabilia to mark 50 years of one of the biggest films of Indian cinema. The exhibition will include paraphernalia such as iconic posters, song booklets and visuals from the infamous, “Yeh Dosti”. Highlighting the film’s cultural impact, the exhibition will explore the legacy of Sholay through the performances of Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra and its ensemble cast. Curated by Dr. Monia Acciari, the exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the film’s enduring influence on Indian cinema and pop culture.
UK Asian Film Festival presents Mystic Mela on Sunday 4th May at Beck Theatre, London – a vibrant celebration blending spiritual heritage with contemporary culture. This immersive event features film screenings, music, yoga and breathwork workshops and storytelling. Highlights include screenings of Paighaam, a heartwarming short film where a young girl discovers her connection to Mother Nature, carrying a message of unity and humanity; Chalo India With Eric Ji, a travelogue exploring India’s rich history, culture and modern vibrancy, beginning with Varanasi and the Maha Kumbh Mela, followed by a Q&A session; and the World Premiere of Jai Mata Ji Let’s Rock, a riotous Gujarati comedy about an 80-year-old woman’s unexpected windfall and her hilarious, heartfelt choices. The evening culminates with Asians On The Square, a special panel marking 40 years of EastEnders with familiar faces from the heritage soap drama.
Magical Memories: Celebrating Raj Kapoor on Friday 9th May at Harrow Arts Centre will mark the centenary of late Raj Kapoor, the legendary filmmaker and actor known as the Greatest Showman of Indian Cinema. This special concert will pay tribute to Kapoor’s
remarkable legacy through an enchanting evening of music, featuring timeless songs from his iconic films. Performed by acclaimed singers, Rekha and Chirag Rao, the concert will transport audiences through the many cinematic lives of Raj Kapoor, bringing his unforgettable melodies to life.
UK Asian Film Festival Creative Director, Samir Bhamra says, “UKAFF 2025 is more than a festival—it’s a cinematic homecoming. Whether it’s a poetic road trip in Parikrama, a riotous Gujarati comedy in Jai Mata Ji, or the shimmering legacy of Raj Kapoor, these films embody the deep ache to find where we belong. Most powerfully, they’re driven by British Asian creatives now shaping global narratives. This is the year to show up, be seen, and feel every beat of our collective story—on the big screen, where it truly belongs.”
For more information and tickets visit the UKAFF website here.
