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“IFFA isn’t just a festival—it’s a movement to protect creativity, keep culture alive, and give dreamers the tools to succeed,” says Mukesh Modi.
Mukesh Modi, celebrated Indian-American filmmaker and recipient of the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Film Foundation Award hosted the Indie Film Festival Awards (IFFA)—an international celebration dedicated to independent filmmakers. Held from June 2 to 5, 2025, at Quad Cinema in New York City, the festival’s award ceremony was held at the Frederick P. Rose Auditorium, 41 Cooper Sq, New York.
IFFA is a non-profit initiative founded by Modi to recognize, empower, and promote the creative excellence of indie filmmakers from across the globe. The festival received 115 submissions from over 20 countries, with more than 50 films selected for theatrical screenings.
“Our goal is to give indie filmmakers a platform to shine,” says Modi. “IFFA is here to make sure their voices are heard, their films are seen, and their efforts are celebrated with pride.”
IFFA aims to assist filmmakers throughout the filmmaking process—offering support, resources, and a path to global distribution through the Indie Films World streaming platform. It strives to break the barriers indie creators often face when navigating the traditional film industry.
Festival Highlights included four days of International Film Screenings showcased at the iconic Quad Cinema.
Opening Ceremony held on June 2 at Quad Cinema was attended by esteemed Guest of Honors, including:
Hon. Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City
Hon. Binaya S. Pradhan, Consul General of India, NY
Hon. Ramdas Athawale, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
Hon. Navneet Kumar Sehgal, Chairman, Prasar Bharati,
Renowned Hollywood celebrities Jeff Wallner and Lulu Lopez
International models and community leaders including Dr Deepak Nandi, Dr Raj Bhayani, Sunil Hali, Dr Sudhir Parikh, Mohan Wanchoo, Drs Yashpal & Urmila Arya amongst others.
IFFA honored Dr. H R Shah, CEO & Chairman of TV ASIA, Sunil Hali, Publisher & Promoter of The Indian EYE Worldwide Media and Entertainment Group, Dr. Sudhir Parikh ITV Gold & Parikh Worldwide Media Group and Penny Sandhu of JUS Broadcasting for their contributions in Media & Entertainment in America.
The glittering award ceremony was held on June 5 at Frederick P. Rose Auditorium. This prestigious event celebrating outstanding contributions to cinema was attended by:
Amir Arison: Hollywood actor, known for the “The Blacklist” on Apple TV & Netflix,
Jade Shenker Celebrity Known for Hit Show “Owning Manhattan”
Simran Ahuja Ms. India, Actress, International Emcee,
Tania Rubis Celebrity TV Host,
Lulu Lopez Hollywood Actor/Model/Writer,
Jeff Wallner Executive Producer. Actor among others.
Hon. Ramdas Athawale, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India and Hon. Navneet Kumar Sehgal, Chairman, Prasar Bharati presented the awards.
The 4-day long event focused on industry networking opportunities, connect with global filmmakers, producers, and industry professionals, insightful panels and workshops, discussions and hands-on sessions covering filmmaking, distribution, and career advancement, empowering independent filmmakers and students worldwide, offering global exposure through streaming and distribution, recognizing creativity and innovation through prestigious awards, nurturing a collaborative global film community.
Mukesh Modi, known for his acclaimed Feature films “The Elevator” starring Oscar nominee Eric Roberts, “Political War” and “Torn,” is also the creator of the web series “Mission Kashi,” and “Thugs of Arms” all streaming on Amazon Prime Video, founded IFFA after observing the industry’s lack of accessible distribution channels for independent creators.
