Acclaimed filmmaker Rima Das has won the International Feature Film Competition for Women Directors for her film Village Rockstars 2 at the 42nd Internationales Frauen Film Fest Dortmund+Köln (IFFF) in Germany. Internationales Frauen Film Fest Dortmund+Köln is Germany’s largest forum for women in the film industry and presents outstanding films by women spanning all genres and styles.
The film is a sequel to Award-winning indie feature Village Rockstars that made waves Internationally and in India following its premiere at Toronto International Film Festival in 2017, won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in 2018 and was India’s Official Entry to the Academy Awards 2019.
The international jury—comprising African-American directing icon Julie Dash, German director Yasemin Şamdereli, and Hei-rim Hwang, director of the Seoul International Women’s Film Festival—praised the film, stating:
"This award goes to a filmmaker who has impressed us with her extraordinary talent for visual storytelling. This award recognizes a woman who has independently developed her artistic voice and practice without formal film school training. Over seven years, she has mastered the Herculean task of capturing the lived realities of her protagonists with incredible tenderness, precision, and courage. In this process, she shows us the brutality and unpredictability of nature as well as the struggle that small landowners must wage against large corporations. As director, producer, screenwriter, and cinematographer, she portrays part of her heritage and the deep bond she shares with the Assam region and its people."
Rima Das dedicated the award to women storytellers worldwide, saying:
"This recognition is not just for me, but for every woman who dares to tell her story with honesty and resilience. Cinema has the power to reflect our truths, our struggles, and our dreams. Through Village Rockstars 2, I wanted to celebrate the spirit of my homeland and the unwavering courage of those who fight for their dreams against all odds. I am deeply grateful to the jury and the festival for this honour."
The film had its World Premiere at the Busan International Film Festival 2024 where it won the much-coveted Kim Jiseok Award for ‘Best Film’, India Premiere at MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 in the South Asia Competition and European Premiere at Berlinale International Film Festival 2025.
Village Rockstars 2 is produced by Flying River Films, in association with Akanga Film Asia and Bad Rabbit Pictures Co. Ltd stars Bhanita Das, Basanti Das, Junumoni Boro, BoloramDas, Manabendra Das.
The film is a sequel to Award-winning indie feature Village Rockstars that made waves Internationally and in India following its premiere at Toronto International Film Festival in 2017, won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in 2018 and was India’s Official Entry to the Academy Awards 2019.
The international jury—comprising African-American directing icon Julie Dash, German director Yasemin Şamdereli, and Hei-rim Hwang, director of the Seoul International Women’s Film Festival—praised the film, stating:
"This award goes to a filmmaker who has impressed us with her extraordinary talent for visual storytelling. This award recognizes a woman who has independently developed her artistic voice and practice without formal film school training. Over seven years, she has mastered the Herculean task of capturing the lived realities of her protagonists with incredible tenderness, precision, and courage. In this process, she shows us the brutality and unpredictability of nature as well as the struggle that small landowners must wage against large corporations. As director, producer, screenwriter, and cinematographer, she portrays part of her heritage and the deep bond she shares with the Assam region and its people."
Rima Das dedicated the award to women storytellers worldwide, saying:
"This recognition is not just for me, but for every woman who dares to tell her story with honesty and resilience. Cinema has the power to reflect our truths, our struggles, and our dreams. Through Village Rockstars 2, I wanted to celebrate the spirit of my homeland and the unwavering courage of those who fight for their dreams against all odds. I am deeply grateful to the jury and the festival for this honour."
The film had its World Premiere at the Busan International Film Festival 2024 where it won the much-coveted Kim Jiseok Award for ‘Best Film’, India Premiere at MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 in the South Asia Competition and European Premiere at Berlinale International Film Festival 2025.
Village Rockstars 2 is produced by Flying River Films, in association with Akanga Film Asia and Bad Rabbit Pictures Co. Ltd stars Bhanita Das, Basanti Das, Junumoni Boro, BoloramDas, Manabendra Das.
You may also like
Super Gonorrhoea breakthrough as new antibiotic works against mutant STI on the rise in Britain
PM Vishwakarma Yojana: Along with training, you get a loan of up to Rs 2 lakh, who gets the benefit of this scheme..
Pune: IISER abruptly cancels Ambedkar event following ABVP complaint
Birmingham bin workers REJECT deal to end strike as rats run riot and military experts called in
Gardeners urged to put bananas in gardens this spring and summer
