The Yellowstone International Film Festival (YIFF) 2025 will open with a special tribute celebrating 50 years of Shyam Benegal’s landmark film Nishant, one of Indian cinema’s most powerful social dramas that defined a new era of storytelling in the 1970s.
The commemorative screening will be held on 13th November 2025 at St. Andrew’s Auditorium, Bandra (W), Mumbai, from 4:00 PM onwards, in the presence of veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, who made one of his earliest and most memorable appearances in the film.
Released in 1975, Nishant brought together an ensemble of legendary talents including Smita Patil, Girish Karnad, Amrish Puri, and Naseeruddin Shah, and went on to win the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi, apart from earning international acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival. The film, known for its piercing social commentary and artistic realism, remains one of the cornerstones of Shyam Benegal’s cinema.
Speaking on the tribute, Anshika Singh, Festival Director of YIFF, said, “Fifty years since its release, Nishant remains a powerful reflection on power, morality, and human resilience, a work that redefined how truth could be told on screen. To commemorate both 50 years of Nishant and 50 years of Naseeruddin Shah in cinema, we’re honoured to present the newly restored 2K version of the film at our Opening Ceremony. To have Naseeruddin Shah Sahab with us for this special screening, is an honour beyond words.”
The evening will feature a special screening of the restored classic, in presence of Naseeruddin Shah.
This tribute marks the official opening evening of the festival, setting the tone for a week-long celebration of global and Indian cinema from 13th to 20th November 2025. The festival will showcase an impressive slate of films such as Aisha Can’t Fly Away, Caravan, Holy Rosita, Aurora, Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day, and The Second Coming, alongside acclaimed Indian titles including Kaisi Ye Paheli and Dream Factory. Screenings will take place across PVR Lido (Santacruz), Veda Black Box, and Veda Kunba Theatre, with over 120 films and events spanning international premieres, short film showcases, and discussions. Adding to the excitement, The Yellowstone International Film Festival 2025 will also feature masterclasses and conversations with filmmakers like Hansal Mehta, Shoojit Sircar, and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, as well as industry panels exploring diversity, empathy, and the future of storytelling.
Together, these experiences promise to make the 2025 edition of the festival one of the most vibrant and inclusive celebrations of cinema in India.
