The Wench Film Festival is back for its 2025 edition, and it’s bigger, bolder, and bloodier than ever. Founded by filmmaker Sapna Bhavnani, India’s first horror, sci-fi, and fantasy festival is celebrating its fifth edition from February 27 to March 2, 2025. This year, it’s making waves by bringing female and non-binary filmmakers to the forefront, with an impressive 35 out of 42 films directed by women.
A Grand Opening and a Haunting Finale
The festival kicks off with the India premiere of The Eye, a British psychological thriller starring Shruti Haasan and Mark Rowley, directed by Daphne Schmon. Following the screening, Haasan will engage in a post-show Q&A. The closing film Schirkoa – In Lies We Trust, an IFFR award-winning animated feature by Ishan Shukla is another interesting title that the festival has roped up into its lineup.
Wench Film Festival 2025—A True Genre Celebration
Wench Film Festival, which is also India’s only genre film festival, is about community, education, and pushing genre boundaries. This year, the festival has secured major collaborations with world-renowned genre powerhouses Fantasia and Imagine Fantastic Film Festival. The Oscar-nominated short I’m Not a Robot is a part of the Fantasia x Wench partnership, promising a stellar lineup for sci-fi and horror enthusiasts.
For the first time, Wench is expanding to Kolkata, hosting screenings at Skinny Mo’s Jazz Club on March 2. In Mumbai, screenings will take place at Veda Kunba (Feb 27–Mar 2) and Alliance Française (Feb 28). The films will be categorized into Blood Thirsty (features), Dwarves (shorts of 10–40 minutes), and Elves (shorts under 10 minutes), with a jury including Chris Orgelt, Harini Laxminarayan, Aruna Raje Patil, and Carolyn Mauricette.
A Festival of Firsts: India’s Horror Portal, Art Installations & Masterclasses
This year, Wench isn’t just screening films—it’s launching India’s first horror publication, Terror Talkies. Dedicated to horror and sci-fi cinema, this platform aims to bring genre storytelling into mainstream conversations.
Additionally, the festival is introducing Silent Skies, an art installation by production designer Sukant Panigrahi in collaboration with World For All Animal Care and Adoptions. This piece will spotlight the impact of urbanization on birds, adding a unique artistic dimension to the festival.
Masterclasses will be another major highlight, featuring renowned experts like Dr. Riksundar Banerjee and horror filmmaker Vishal Furia, making this festival a must-attend for cinephiles and creators alike.
The 2025 Wench Film Festival will showcase 42 films, including 7 Indian productions, 35 international titles, and an astounding 41 premieres—13 India Premieres, 25 Asia Premieres, and 3 World Premieres.
The India Focus Day on March 1 at Veda Kunba will feature five thought-provoking films, along with performances and panel discussions. This segment will highlight India’s growing footprint in horror and genre filmmaking, creating space for voices that have long been underrepresented.
