Indian & Belgium Films Share the Top Award at 5th Edition C2F2

Mumbai – 3^rd November 2025 – The 5th Edition of Culture Cinema (C2F2) concluded after three days of screenings, discussions, and cultural exchange that celebrated cinema as a vibrant reflection of human stories and shared heritage. On the closing day, the 5^th Edition C2F2 Awards recognized outstanding films and filmmakers whose works stood out for their cultural relevance, storytelling strength, and creative innovation.

 

Mr. Tim Curtis, Director and Representative, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asiaemphasized the global value of such initiatives, stating, “Cinema is one of culture’s most powerful expressions. It allows us to honour our past, engage with the present and imagine a more inclusive future. Festivals like this one remind us of the creativity and diversity that unite humanity, inspiring us to safeguard the many ways people tell their stories. It also shows how cinema transcends borders, giving voice to different experiences and shared dreams. In celebrating culture through film, we celebrate humanity itself.”

 

In the 5^th Edition C2F2, the Top Award of Film of The Festival Award was shared by Indian Film, SWARAM directed by Lijin Lohithakshan and Belgian Film HOLDING UP THE SKY directed by Pieter Van Eecke. Both the films will be sharing the prize money of USD 501, where each of them will receive USD 251 for their outstanding achievement. Both the films also won BEST Film in their respective categories, viz. SWARAM in Social Practices, and HOLDING UP THE SKY in Tribal Community category. The festival had BEST in Category Awards for 14 films, and Jury Special Mentions for 4 films.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Praveen Nagda, Festival Director of Culture Cinema (C2F2), expressed his gratitude to the participants, jury, and partners, saying, “Each year, Culture Cinema continues to grow as a platform where filmmakers and audiences come together to celebrate the beauty and complexity of culture. This edition has shown how cinema can transcend borders and generations, thereby reminding us that stories remain our strongest link to each other.”

 

Earlier, the closing day began with an interaction with Mr. Livingston Antony Ruben, an Indian film editor, well-known for his work in prominent Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada films including Pushpa-The Rise, and Jawaan etc. It was followed by an insightful panel discussion “Directing Change: Women Shaping the Future of Indian Cinema,” moderated by Ms. Shubha Shetty Saha and Prof. Navya Singh, featuring Ms. Akriti Singh, Prof. Malati Rao, Ms. Rupali Saxena, and Ms. Piyana Bandyopadhyay. The discussion explored representation, leadership, and the evolving female gaze in Indian cinema, setting an empowering tone for the festival’s finale.

 

Over its three-day run, C2F2 featured a diverse showcase of films from India, Japan, Italy, France, Brazil, and several other countries, alongside panels such as “Courage on Screen: The Business and Art of Patriotic Filmmaking” and cultural performances that blended tradition with modernity.

As the curtains come down on this milestone edition, Culture Cinema reaffirms its vision of promoting cinema as culture’s most universal language, and the one that connects people, preserves heritage, and inspires collective creativity.

 

Organized in collaboration with Amity University Mumbai, CIFEJ, and GMEC, the 5^th Edition C2F2 reaffirmed the festival’s growing reputation as a meaningful platform for cultural dialogue through film.

 

 

 

 

Best Film in the Category Award
SR No	Category		Best Film Details
1	Architecture		Name – The corridor of heaven Country – IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF Director – Mohammad Hassan abedinezhad Producer – Mohammad Hassan abedinezhad
2	Arts & Artisans		Name – DEVI A Woven History Country – INDIA Director – Manas Holkar Producer – Manas Holkar
3	Biodiversity		Name – Flamingos: Life after the meteorite Country – MEXICO Director – Lorenzo Hagerman Producer – José Cohen
4	Cultural Taboos		Name – Spider-Zan Country – IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF Director – Maryam Khodabakhsh Producer – Ali Tabe emam
5	Cultural Reforms		Name – Spider-Zan Country – IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF Director – Maryam Khodabakhsh Producer – Ali Tabe emam
6	Diaspora		Name – Vinola sets the tone Country – FRANCE Director – Marie Sushila Le Ny Producer – Les Ateliers Varan
7	Education		Name – I am Banni- Daughter of Kutch Country – INDIA Director – Nitin Choudhary, K K Makwana Producer – Anil Garg
8	History		Name – My Radio My Life Country – INDIA Director – Bidit Roy, Makarand Waikar Producer – Makarand Waikar
9	Music		Name – BASSNINJA film the live in the ring episode０ Country – JAPAN Director – Kenji Ogusu Producer – Quagero Imazawa
10	Philosophy		Name – From Death to Oblivion Country – MEXICO Director – Andrés Durán Moreno Producer – Andrés Durán Moreno, Mikel de la Barcena
11	Social Practices		Name – SWARAM Country – INDIA Director – Lijin Lohithakshan Producer – Lijin Lohithakshan
12	Sports	Name – The documentary of the 10 (Maradona) Country – ARGENTINA Director – Lucas Martin Costa Producer – Damian Pablo Originario
13	Travel & Tourism	Name – AMAZORIOCA Country – PORTUGAL Director – Antonio Aleixo Producer – Antonio Aleixo, Joana Madruga
14	Tribal Community	Name – Holding Up The Sky Country – BELGIUM Director – Pieter Van Eecke Producer – Hanne Phlypo
Jury Special Mention
SR No	Category		Best Film Details
1	History		Name – Cheenee Country – Trinidad and Tobago Director – ANDREAS ANTONOPOULOS Producer – ANDREAS ANTONOPOULOS, DEBOLEENA PAUL
2	Biodiversity		Name – Thar: Sacred Groves and Waterscapes Country – INDIA Director – Pranjal Joshi Producer – Ashoka University, The Helen Hamlyn Trust
3	Cultural Taboos		Name – Light Memories Country – ECUADOR Director – Misha Vallejo Producer – Mayfe Ortega Haboud
4	Social Practices		Name – Djurdjevdan Is Yet to Come Country – SERBIA Director – Predrag Todorovic Producer – Predrag Todorovic