Ahmedabad International Literature Festival Explores Cinema
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With the subject “Literature & Cinema,” the historic 10ᵗʰ edition of the Ahmedabad International Literature Festival (AILF) will enthral spectators on October 11 and 12, 2025, as it explores the dynamic convergence of storytelling across text and screen. According to the festival’s official website, it began in 2016 and currently hosts both online and in-person events. AILF has featured around 500 speakers in about 200 sessions during its past editions.
Founder director of the festival, Umashanker Yadav, briefed the media about the ten years of glorious journey of this prestigious festival and how it has grown in strides since its inception in 2016. Yadav is deeply involved in multiple creative and educational ventures. He leads Serene Films, Serene Publishers, and the Ikon Education Foundation, which makes the festival possible. His background also includes service in the Indian Air Force and entrepreneurship.
The Ahmedabad International Literature Festival (AILF) and its next edition were covered in detail by Shri Manoj Aggarwal, IAS (Retd.), former Additional Chief Secretary (Health); Dr. Rajesh Chandwani, National Award-winning filmmaker and faculty at IIMA; Mr. Vision Raval, founder of Sahitya Manch, Vision Incorp., Media Hives and AI Expert; and Shri Umashanker Yadav, founder of AILF, filmmaker, writer, and entrepreneur.
“Vision Raval” is listed as one of the speakers on the AILF website, indicating his participation. Complete biographies of Dr Rajesh Chandwani and other speakers are also available on the festival website.
The event will be graced by a galaxy of distinguished guests and creative voices, such as legendary litterateur and Gyanpeeth awardee Raghuveer Chaudhary, renowned film personality Jamnadas “JD” Majethia (Producer, Director, and Actor), Mushtaq Khan (Senior Hindi Films Actor), Pia Benegal (daughter of legendary film maker Shyam Benegal, Producer and Celebrity Costume Designer), Shobha Aksar (a very strong feminist voice, writer, and columnist from Delhi), celebrity film maker Abhishek Jain, Gujarati film’s super star Hiten Kumar, popular speaker Jay Vasavada, poet and Padmashri Tushar Shukla, lyricist and columnist Vinay Dave, famous filmmaker, actor, and singer Arvind Vegda, screen writer from Mumbai Mumbai-based movie distributor Snehal Chaudhary Utkarsh Patel, Dr. Indira Nityanandam, and Aneri Savla, Manisha Khatate, Bhagwandas Patel, Kumud Verma, Maitridevi Sisodia, and Dr. Jai Tharur. Among many others, respected bureaucrat and former IAS Officer Manoj Aggarwal, Delhi Police Special Commissioner (Traffic) Ajay Chaudhr, Lucknow-based author and active IAS Dr Heera Lal, and Kalorex Group CEO Anantha Krishnan will also provide their opinions and thoughts. The audience will hear from Dr Rajesh Chandwani, an IIM faculty member and national award-winning filmmaker, on his experiences in academia and filmmaking. Many of these people are listed as confirmed speakers on the AILF website. The Serene Films also feature Pia Benegal’s experience as a costume designer. In previous iterations, the event has featured speakers from both domestic and foreign locations.
Dr Jai Tharur, Kumud Verma, Maitridevi Sisodia, Bhagwandas Patel, and Manisha Khatate. Ajay Chaudhr, Delhi Police Special Commissioner (Traffic), Dr Heera Lal, an active IAS and author from Lucknow, Kalorex Group CEO Anantha Krishnan, and renowned bureaucrat and former IAS Officer Manoj Aggarwal will also share their thoughts and perspectives. IIM faculty member and national award-winning filmmaker Dr Rajesh Chandwani will share his experiences in academia and filmmaking with the audience. On the AILF website, many of these individuals are listed as confirmed speakers. Pia Benegal’s work as a costume designer is also included in The Serene Films. Speakers from both domestic and international areas have participated in the event in past versions.
On their website, SERENE FILMS lists their movie Drop Out, which was directed by Omkar Pethkar and scripted by Umashanker Yadav. In May 2025, a muhurat ceremony was held in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, to kick off the filming of Drop Out. The film’s plot is around mental health issues, academic pressure, and a young person quitting school.
In addition to seven international speakers (from Afghanistan, Brazil, Uganda, Azerbaijan, Malawi, Madagascar, and Myanmar), the two-day festival will feature more than 12 carefully selected sessions that will weave discussions across literature, film, adaptation, translation, graphic narrative, and other creative forms.
According to the AILF website, sessions on adaptation, translation, multimedia storytelling, graphic narratives, etc., have been held in previous editions. As stated on the website’s “Speakers” page, they frequently welcome speakers from throughout the world.
About 60 people from various linguistic, social, economic, and artistic backgrounds come together for the festival, which adds diversity and depth to its programming. The event will include a children’s book reading session, literary debates, panel talks, and thematic performances that combine poetry, theatre, music, and multimedia. AILF places a strong emphasis on inclusivity and elevating voices from diverse backgrounds. Cultural performances and children’s reading sessions were featured in previous editions.
Gujarat Tourism as Patron, GMDC as Silver Sponsor, Hotel Renaissance by Marriott as Hospitality Partner, Kalorex Group as School Partner, ICCR as Cultural Partner, Sahitya Manch as Literary Partner, Serene Publishers as Publishing Partner, SERENE FILMS as Cinema Partner, and Ikon Barcode Solutions Pvt. Ltd. are all supporting AILF, a charitable trust initiative of the Ikon Education Foundation.
Gujarat Tourism is a patron, GMDC is a sponsor, and numerous more partners are listed on the AILF website. The Ikon Education Foundation oversees the festival, and Serene Publishers, which is affiliated with Serene Films, is a member of that organisation.
