THE High Commission of India, in collaboration with the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, hosted the first-ever Vasantotsav – Spring Film Festival of India in Georgetown, Guyana, in March 2025.

The festival, held in partnership with Caribbean Cinemas at Giftland and Amazonia Malls, showcased six critically acclaimed Indian films with English subtitles, including Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, English Vinglish, Saand Ki Aankh, Gadar 2, 12th Fail, and 83.

The festival was inaugurated by Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Vasini Persaud, alongside India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. Amit Telang, and Dr. Deepali Telang at the Caribbean Cinemas in Giftland Mall.

In his opening remarks, High Commissioner Telang emphasised the global appeal of Indian cinema and its role in fostering cultural connections, particularly between India and Guyana, which share deep historical and cultural ties. Minister Persaud echoed these sentiments, highlighting the enduring popularity of Indian films in Guyana and their contribution to bridging cultures.

A major highlight of the festival was the screening of Old Toy Train, a short film by young Guyanese filmmakers Kevin Garbaran and Rae Wiltshire. This marked the film’s first theatrical release in Guyana. High Commissioner Telang commended the filmmakers’ efforts and underscored India’s commitment to supporting young talent in the Caribbean through the Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, which offers training opportunities for aspiring filmmakers.

The three-week-long festival concluded on March 23, 2025, with a screening of 83, a film celebrating India’s historic cricket victory in the 1983 World Cup.

The event also reinforced cricket as a unifying passion between India, Guyana, and the wider Caribbean. To commemorate this shared love for the sport, Ashoka Buildcon, a prominent Indian infrastructure company undertaking a US$50 million road project in Guyana under India’s Line of Credit, donated cricket kits to the Georgetown Cricket Club, Guyana’s oldest cricket institution.

During the closing ceremony, High Commissioner Telang referenced Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposal at the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit in Guyana (November 2024) to enhance women’s empowerment by training eleven young female cricketers from each CARICOM nation in India. The idea for the Vasantotsav Film Festival also stemmed from Prime Minister Modi’s address at the summit, where he emphasised Bollywood’s global influence and encouraged film festivals as a medium for strengthening inter-cultural cooperation.

The festival received overwhelming support from the Government of Guyana, the Diplomatic Corps, media professionals, the Indian diaspora, and the student community. Backed by the External Publicity Division of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the National Film Development Corporation, Vasantotsav underscored the pivotal role of Indian cinema in fostering cultural exchange and strengthening people-to-people ties between India and Guyana.