After Its Historic Win in Venice, Anuparna Roy’s Songs of Forgotten Trees to Close the Indian Film Festival of Sydney 2025

Mumbai: The 11th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Sydney (IFFS) has officially announced Songs of Forgotten Trees — directed by internationally acclaimed filmmaker Anuparna Roy — as its closing night film on October 12.

The deeply moving film, which recently won the prestigious Orizzonti Award for Best Director at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival, is a lyrical and meditative exploration of memory, resilience, and the sacred relationship between people and nature. Presented in Hindi, Songs of Forgotten Trees is set for its Australian premiere at IFFS and is already being hailed as one of the most significant Indian international films of the year.

Festival Director Mitu Lange expressed her delight at the selection, saying, “We could not have imagined a more perfect closing for our 11th anniversary edition. Songs of Forgotten Trees embodies everything we at IFFS stand for — cinema that moves, provokes, and heals. Anuparna Roy has created a cinematic poem that resonates universally, yet speaks deeply to our cultural roots. We are overwhelmed to have the honor of presenting its Australian premiere.”

The 11th edition of IFFS features a vibrant line-up of films, conversations, and masterclasses, celebrating the best of Indian cinema. The festival will conclude on an unforgettable note with Roy’s award-winning masterpiece, underscoring its growing reputation as a bridge between Indian filmmakers and global audiences — and leaving cinephiles eagerly awaiting the next edition.