Actors including Aditya Srivastava, Makarand Deshpande and Sharib Hashmi attend 7th Golden Jury Film Festival!
Sharib Hashmi, Vikram Kochhar, Aditya Srivastava, Makarand Deshpande, Rajesh Jais, and Inaamulhaq attended the 7th Golden Jury Film Festival Awards 2025, honouring excellence in feature films and short films such as Sheness, starring Hiba Shah, Chum Darang, and Shruty Menon; the Rajasthani social drama Omlo, led by Shambho Mahajan and Sonali Sharmistha; and acclaimed titles Nazariyaa featuring Sanjay Mishra, Rohitashv Gour, and Giti Gour and The Prayer, featuring Aaditi Pohankar, Makarand Deshpande, and Smita Jayakar.
Aditya Srivastava, Makarand Deshpande, and Rajesh Jais shared their thoughts on being associated with the Golden Jury Film Festival.
Speaking about the significance of the festival, Aditya Shrivastava said, “I feel the quality of films showcased here is consistently strong, and reaching the seventh edition itself speaks volumes about the credibility of this festival. Platforms like this are extremely important, especially for Hindi cinema and short films, which often struggle to find the right audience. The Golden Jury Film Festival has become a space where meaningful cinema connects with viewers, and that is a matter of pride and happiness for our entire fraternity.”
Actor Rajesh Jais highlighted the festival’s unique structure, sharing, “What I truly admire about this film festival is its year-long format that culminates in a final awards ceremony. It allows us to meet regularly, watch good films, and engage with cinema in a sustained way. The festival feels simple, intimate, and warm, which is incredibly important for independent and small-budget films.”
Reflecting on the milestone edition, Makarand Deshpande remarked, “When a festival crosses five years, it shows seriousness and commitment. Reaching the seventh edition is a significant milestone. What matters most is that new and independent filmmakers get a genuine platform to present fresh perspectives and stories, and this festival truly stands for that spirit.”
Founder Subhransu Das, talking about the event said, “Love for cinema brings us together to organise this festival with warmth and spirit. This journey wouldn’t have been possible without the vision of our Founder, Pragyesh Singh, whose dedication turns ideas into reality year after year. Seeing more people unite for cinema gives us hope, and we aim to keep growing this platform for independent filmmakers and audiences in the years to come.”
Founded by filmmaker Pragyesh Singh and directed by filmmaker and cinematographer Subhransu Das, the Golden Jury Film Festival has, since 2019, established itself as a trusted platform celebrating meaningful cinema and diverse storytelling voices.
By Keerti Kadam