MUMBAI: You’ve got to hand it to Nina Lath. The former NFDC MD-turned-producer-turned festival organiser does not let anything get in her way. If she wants something, she goes out and gets it.
Like she has done with her initiative Cinevesture which organised the inaugural edition of the Cinevesture International Film Festival (CIFF).
The festival is back along with a market rebranded as *CinéV-CHD*, which will take place on 20-23 March 2025 in Chandigarh.
Not just that: CIFF has also got into a relationship with the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA).
Let’s have a bit of a recap of the inaugural edition of CIFF. It garnered significant attention and hosted prominent Indian film personalities including Karan Johar, Boman Irani, Sudhir Mishra, Shekhar Kapur, and Richa Chadha.
Under Cinevesture, Lath has also designed CineV to be a a series of film markets that are designed to facilitate interactions between film professionals, investors, and distributors. These markets will serve as a hub for private investors and industry insiders to explore co-production opportunities, secure funding, and forge strategic alliances.
CinéV-CHD 2025 marks the first such market. Registrations for it will open from 14 January 2025.
Starting in 2025, Cinevesture will partner with IFFLA, the leading south Asian film festival based in Los Angeles. The partnership, *CinéV-IFFLA*, aligns the mission of both entities to support innovative storytelling and foster global collaborations.
This collaboration will integrate south Asian stories curated by Cinevesture for CinéV-IFFLA into IFFLA Industry Days along with IFFLA’s selected projects from north America.
Industry Days, which takes place during the annual festival, is a pivotal forum that connects bridges south Asian filmmakers with Hollywood producers, offering opportunities such as pitch competitions, panels, masterclasses, industry round tables and networking events.
The twenty third edition of IFFLA is scheduled on 6-10 May 2025 in Los Angeles. Submissions for IFFLA’s pitch competition open on 3 December 2025 at www.indianfilmfestival.org.
CineV-CHD and CinéV-IFFLA also mark the beginning of Cinevesture’s broader initiative to build a network for investor-creator collaborations in south Asia and the diaspora. These events will focus on linking filmmakers with potential partners to develop projects that align with market demands.
Beyond film screenings, the festival will host a series of insightful conversations and panel discussions. These sessions will delve into various aspects of film making, including script writing, directing, producing, and distribution. Renowned industry experts will share their knowledge and experiences, providing valuable insights for aspiring filmmakers and industry professionals.
Says Cinevesture founder & CEO Nina Lath: “Unlike other sectors , film production often presents a challenge for private investors due to its intangible nature and relatively short shelf life. Yet the passion for cinematic storytelling and potential for substantial returns makes it an enticing opportunity. With CinéV, our mission is to bridge this gap by connecting pre-vetted projects with credible producers and investors, aiming for mutually beneficial outcomes for all involved. As we bring the second edition of our event to Chandigarh, we are excited about the growing momentum and are proud to collaborate with IFFLA, a festival that has earned the utmost respect in the Indian film industry.”
Adds IFFLA founder Christina Marouda: “The partnership with Cinevesture comes at the perfect time for IFFLA as it officially expands its twenty third year legacy and footprint into the development of south Asian focused content. We could not think of a better partner than Nina and her new venture to create an ecosystem of talented storytellers and attract the right investors for these curated projects. This filmmaker-investor curated track is a gap we’re filling in with this endeavor. I'm excited for the IFFLA and Cinevesture teams to be joining hands, and cannot wait to see the results of such a unique and timely collaboration."
