Pune: The 18th edition of the Kirloskar Vasundhara International Film Festival (KVIFF), themed “Nutritious Food, Enriched Nature, and a Healthy Society,” is set to commence on Tuesday, January 7. This annual event, which focuses on environmental awareness, will be held online and run until the end of January.
During a press conference on Thursday (January 2), festival organizer Virendra Chitrav shared key details of the event. The festival will stream films daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with repeat telecasts from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Viewers can enjoy around 100 films from across the globe, covering diverse environmental and societal themes.
As part of the festival, several awards will be presented to recognize contributions toward environmental conservation:
Dr. Khader Vali will receive the Vasundhara Samman Award for his outstanding contributions.
Sabarmatee Tiki will be honored with the Vasundhara Mitra Activist Award.
Journalist Nidhi Jamwal will be presented with the Vasundhara Mitra Award for her work in journalism.
Kalinga Foundation, Karnataka will be recognized with the Vasundhara Mitra Organization Award.
The Habitat Trust, Delhi will receive the Vasundhara Mitra Filmmaker Award.
In addition to film screenings, the festival will feature expert guidance sessions and an online photography exhibition titled “Best of Century Asia.” A special section called "My Marathi" will showcase Marathi-language films focusing on themes like environmental protection, wildlife, and health.
Festival chairman Rajendra Deshpande, organizer Virendra Chitrav, and Dr. Gurudas Nulkar were present at the press conference. Highlighting the event's significance, Dr. Nulkar stated, “Climate change and environmental conservation are critical global challenges. This festival will offer an opportunity to watch outstanding films that address these issues.”
The festival is free and open to all, but registration is required via the official website bit.ly/kviff2025.
