The 2025 ‘River to River’ Florence Indian Film Festival

Fri. 5 – Wed. 10: “RIVER TO RIVER” FLORENCE INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL.  Cinema La Compagnia, Via Cavour 50/r. All films are screened in  their original language with subtitles in English or Italian. 

Cinema La Compagnia is preparing to immerse itself once again into the stories, voices and culture  of India, as the River to River Florence Indian Film Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary, as part  of the “50 days of Cinema” programme. 

As the only festival in Italy entirely dedicated to Indian cinematography and culture, expect everything ranging from independent productions to Bollywood blockbusters. This year’s  programme will explore family dynamics and complex topics such as tradition and modernity,  gender issues, environmental challenges and evolving identities.  

The 25th edition will be marked by Italian and European premieres, special screenings and visits  by international guests, offering a unique experience to engage directly with directors, actors and  cultural icons. Expanding beyond cinema, the festival will also feature thematic talks and a  photography exhibition.  

The festival opens on Friday, December 5 at 8:30 pm with a showing of the comedy “Metro…In  Dino” by Bollywood blockbuster director Anurag Basu, who will be present for the premiere  together with partners, institutions, sponsors, and guests, including the Ambassador of India to  Italy, Vani Rao.  

A sequel to Basu’s 2007 comedy “Life in a… Metro”, the film serves as a tribute to the late actor  Irrfan Khan, who participated in the 2017 edition of River to River. Its story follows the lives of  three generations of women as they navigate family expectations, marriage traditions, and the  complexities of love. The director will meet with the audience in the hall following the screening. 

The festival will come to a close on December 10 at 8:30 with one of the most iconic titles in the  history of Indian cinema: “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” (1995) by Aditya Chopra, which  celebrates its 13th anniversary. The beloved Bollywood love story is a winner of the two most 

prestigious film awards in India, 10 Film Fare Award and the National Film Award, and holds a  legendary record of the only film still included in the programming of Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir,  where it ran for a consecutive 1009 weeks. 

Throughout the festival week, visitors will have the chance to explore several social and cultural  offerings at Cinema La Compagnia:  

Care to Action Corner – an organisation which promotes access to quality education for children  and young people, supports women toward autonomy and empowerment, and collaborates with  local communities to work toward sustainable social and economic development. 

BRAC Bookstore Corner – offering a selection of curated books on Indian culture, cinema and  literature. 

Radio Amblè on Air – broadcasting readings and audiobooks of literary works, including ‘Indian  Nocturne’ by Tabucchi, ‘Shantaram’ by Gregory David Roberts, and ‘Siddhartha’ by Hermann  Hesse.  

The River to River Florence Indian Film Festival is organised by Fondazione Sistema Toscana and  continues to flourish thanks to the contributions of the Tuscany Region, the Municipality of  Florence, the CR Firenze Foundation, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of India.  Tickets are on sale at the cinema box office and online at www.cinemalacompagnia.ticka.it

(april shally)