Awesome International Film Festival is a one-day New York festival of independent films from more than 15 countries, under the theme “Cinema Without Borders.”
Our Bureau
New York, NY
The inaugural Awesome International Film Festival (AwesomeIFF) announced that Aamir Khan Productions’ Batwara 1947 will screen at the festival on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2026, at New York City’s SVA Theatre. The Partition drama will headline a one-day lineup of independent films from more than 15 countries.
Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and produced by Aamir Khan and Aparna Purohit, Batwara 1947 stars Sunny Deol, Shabana Azmi, Preity G. Zinta, Karan Deol, Ali Fazal and Abhimanyu Singh, with music by A.R. Rahman and lyrics by Javed Akhtar. Set against one of the most defining moments in the subcontinent’s history, the film tells a story of love, loss and humanity during the Partition of India.
The screening reflects the festival’s mission to present stories that travel across borders and bring audiences together through films.
“Batwara 1947 represents exactly the kind of storytelling AwesomeIFF was created to champion,” said Ritesh Parikh, founder and festival director of AwesomeIFF. “We hope audiences leave inspired by this collection of stories from filmmakers who remind us that film has the power to connect cultures and spark conversations.”
AwesomeIFF is created to celebrate independent voices and give filmmakers a global platform in New York, the greatest city of the world. Guided by its theme “Cinema Without Borders,” the one-day festival brings together filmmakers, producers, industry leaders, artists and audiences for a full day of screenings and networking.
Alongside Batwara 1947, the festival will present its official selections across documentary, narrative, animation, AI-generated film, student work and music video.
Featured screenings include the headline film Batwara 1947 — Aamir Khan Productions’ Partition drama, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi along with Destination Oak Tree Road — an Emmy-honored story out of New Jersey. The Red Market — a thriller from a U.S. Navy veteran director. Hello Dad — an emotional family drama. Immortality — an AI-crafted narrative on what it means to live forever. The Man and the Monkey — he came looking for the “real” India and found himself. What We Deserve — in humanity’s absence, nature reclaims the world we left behind. Giving Mom the Talk — a daughter gives her Indian mother “the talk. “The City Speaks — a city tells its story through countless voices.
Additional Selection include internationally recognized selections such as Unspoken — a young Polish acrobat chases his dream while living with a stutter. Mukunã: Aprendiz de Pajé — Indigenous tradition and environmental stewardship in Brazil. Cartapesta: Carnival of Fano — Italy’s centuries-old carnival craft. Two Steps — she forgot the cruelty; the other never did and Baba — an unexpected visit unearths years of buried tension.
The full slate reflects the range of work coming out of the independent filmmaking community today.
For tickets, programming and additional information, visit awesomeiff.com or follow @awesomeiff on Instagram. Organizations interested in sponsorship or partnership opportunities should contact the organizer listed below.
AwesomeIFF Advisors
- Sunil Hali — Media pioneer; leads Radio Zindagi and The Indian EYE.
- David S. Zucker — Show creator and producer, David Zucker Productions.
- Tirlok Malik — Emmy-nominated actor and producer, Apple Productions.
- Sarba Das — Award-winning entertainment executive and creative strategist.
Festival Partner
- Sattie Persaud — Founder, World Heritage Cultural Center; cultural preservation advocate.
About Awesome International Film Festival
The Awesome International Film Festival (AwesomeIFF) is a New York City-based international film festival dedicated to independent filmmakers and to the power of storytelling to connect people across cultures. Guided by its theme “Cinema Without Borders,” the festival showcases narrative, documentary, animation, AI, student and emerging filmmakers while creating opportunities for artists, audiences and industry professionals to discover new voices, exchange ideas and build lasting creative connections. AwesomeIFF is more than a film festival — it is a movement that amplifies underrepresented voices and connects the global creative community through storytelling.