This summer, Jaipur Centre for Art (JCA) presents Artist’s Cinema / Artists’ Cinema a six-week programme of bold, poetic, and boundary-blurring films that celebrate cinema as both artistic expression and collective experience. Running from June 20 to July 31 within the historic City Palace complex, the programme transforms the height of Jaipur’s summer into an invitation to gather, slow down, and immerse in the power of moving images.
Curated by Dr. Shwetal Ashvin Patel, the inaugural programme of art and film will feature over 150 films from South Asia and beyond, spanning genres and formats from short experimental pieces and documentaries to both historical and contemporary internationally acclaimed features.
This first year’s line-up features powerful works by Indian artists and filmmakers, including Soumya Sankar Bose’s haunting documentary Marichjhapi: Where The Birds Never Sing, Ronny Sen’s gritty and stylised Cat Sticks, and Amshu Chukki’s meditative Different Danny. The programme also includes regional and cross-border narratives such as Suruchi Sharma’s Ek Taar, a Rajasthani documentary preserving oral traditions, Saurav Rai’s Crossing Borders, and Achal Mishra’s evocative Gamak Ghar and Dhuin, both exploring memory, identity, and belonging.
The international segment of Artist’s Cinema / Artists’ Cinema extends the dialogue with a selection of influential global filmmakers. From Fatih Akin’s politically charged In the Fade and Soul Kitchen, to Jean-Luc Godard’s radical La Chinoise, and Lisandro Alonso’s metaphysical journey Eureka, these films challenge conventions and expand the cinematic imagination.
Adding another layer to the programme is an exhibition presented by Art Heritage: “Bombay Talkies: Photographs from the Josef Wirsching Collection” a special showing of select photographs from the archive of German cinematographer Josef Wirsching, offering a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the golden age of Indian cinema. This evocative photographic collection will be on view alongside the film screenings for the full duration of the programme.
“This inaugural programme seeks to nurture the poetic potential of cinema envisioning film as a space of refuge and resistance in an era marked by acceleration, exploitation, and erasure,” says Dr. Shwetal Ashvin Patel, curator of the programme. “These films transcend borders, styles, and formats, creating a space that welcomes diverse ideas, perspectives, and modes of remembrance.”
Artist’s Cinema / Artists’ Cinema will feature daily afternoon screenings of experimental works and artist films by influential figures such as Sunil Gupta, Pallavi Paul, Amol K. Patil, Bani Abidi and Sudarshan Shetty, alongside emerging talents like Rajaram Naik. As the sun sets, the programme shifts to evening screenings of auteur features, including South Asian classics and international films, presented in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut, the French Embassy, the Film Critics Guild (FCG), and the M.S.M.S. II Museum. The global selection includes works by Jacques Demy, François Truffaut and Mati Diop.
“Jaipur has long been a city where tradition and creativity have coexisted in harmony. With this summer film programme at the Jaipur Centre for Art, we continue that legacy by opening our doors to diverse cinematic voices from around the world. It is a privilege to support an initiative that encourages cultural exchange, critical thought, and community gathering, especially during a season that invites pause and reflection,” says HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur, Co-Founder, Jaipur Centre for Art.
“At Jaipur Centre for Art, we are deeply committed to creating space for diverse artistic practices and new modes of storytelling. This summer film programme is both a celebration and an invitation to relax, to gather, and to engage with film as a medium of reflection, community, and joy. Launched in collaboration with Dr. Shwetal Ashvin Patel, the programme brings together an extraordinary range of voices and visions from around the world – a testament to the power of moving images. In the heart of Jaipur’s City Palace, we are thrilled to welcome artists, filmmakers, and audiences into an immersive, evolving conversation that bridges geographies, histories, and disciplines.”, says Noelle Kadar, Co-Founder, Jaipur Centre for Art.
Astha Khetan, Co-founder, The House of Things, says, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Jaipur Centre for Art on ‘The Modern Baithak’ – a contemporary take on traditional cinema seating. Designed as both functional furniture and immersive art, it is a visually compelling environment designed to invite audiences to lounge, gather, and experience films from unique vantage points. Blending Jaipur’s craft heritage with a modern design sensibility, the installation creates a spatial experience that is both contextual and contemplative, transforming seating into part of the artwork itself.”
“At PVR INOX, we believe that art and cinema are deeply interconnected — both powerful mediums that shape perspectives and enrich cultures,” says Niharika Bijli, Lead Strategist, PVR INOX. She added, “We’re delighted to partner with the Jaipur Centre for Art, a dynamic space for contemporary art and artists. We are excited to celebrate this initiative and shine a spotlight on these incredible artists and the majestic city of Jaipur.”
Artist’s Cinema is presented by Jaipur Centre for Art and the M.S.M.S. II Museum, with support from the Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Mumbai, French Institut, Film Critics Guild, The House of Things, and PVR Inox.
The programme will be open to the public from 20th June 2025 to 31st July 2025.
