Telangana Govt Sanctions Massive For Hyderabad Film Festival

Cinema’s like a mirror, it shows who we are, sometimes even who we want to be. And now that mirror’s shining right on Hyderabad. The Telangana government has put aside Rs 55 lakh for the Telangana–North East India Connect: Cultural Sovereignty Through Cinema festival, happening later this month at Prasads Multiplex and HITEX Convention Centre.

Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy said the idea isn’t just about screening films but building something deeper. We want Telangana to stand out as a hub for art, culture, and cinema, he shared. The event aims to bring creative voices from Telangana and the North East together, a mix of stories, sounds, and emotions that show just how wide India’s creative space can be.

The festival, run by the Telangana State Film Development Corporation (TSFDC), will have national award-winning movies, panel talks, and live performances. It’s all centered around one idea, cultural sovereignty through cinema. Basically, it’s about how storytelling can hold a culture together and give it its own flavor. For movie buffs, it sounds like a space where reels meet real identity.

And there’s more coming. The Hyderabad International Short Film Festival (HISFF) 2025 will follow right after, from December 19 to 21 at Prasads. It’s being organised by the Dadasaheb Phalke School of Film Studies with help from TSFDC and the Department of Youth Advancement, Culture & Tourism. With two back-to-back festivals, Hyderabad isn’t just watching films anymore, it’s turning into a stage where stories from all corners of India come alive.