SINISTER STORIES
India’s pioneering horror film festival Wench is set to unleash its fifth edition at Mumbai venues with British psychological thriller “The Eye,” toplining Shruti Haasan, who will participate in a post-screening Q&A. Running Feb. 27-March 2, the fest continues its mission to spotlight female voices in genre cinema, with women helmers accounting for 35 of the 42 selected films.
Festival founder Sapna Bhavnani is expanding the event’s footprint with a Kolkata edition while also launching Terror Talkies, billed as India’s first horror portal. The lineup boasts partnerships with genre heavyweights Fantasia and Imagine Fantastic Film Festival, including Oscar-nominated short “I’m Not a Robot” as part of the Fantasia collaboration.
Closing night honors go to Ishan Shukla’s IFFR winner “Schirkoa – In Lies We Trust.” The fest will also present masterclasses by Riksundar Banerjee and Vishal Furia, plus an art installation titled “Silent Skies” spotlighting avian conservation, created in partnership with World For All Animal Care and Adoptions and production designer Sukant Panigrahi.
The program features 13 Indian premieres, 25 Asia premieres and three world premieres across three competitive sections: Blood Thirsty (features), Dwarves (mid-length) and Elves (shorts). Industry veterans Chris Orgelt and Harini Laxminarayan will judge the features category, with Aruna Raje Patil handling mid-length and Carolyn Mauricette overseeing shorts.
“Wench Film Festival 2025 isn’t just bigger – it’s bolder, bloodier, and smashes more glass ceilings,” says Bhavnani. “With the launch of Terror Talkies, legendary horror masterclasses, India’s finest genre films, and experiences that push every boundary, this year, fear has never looked this good.”
POWER PAIR
London-based talent firm Casarotto Ramsay & Associates has tapped industry veteran Tanya Tillett as senior agent in its film and television department. The boutique agency also brought on Kara Fitzpatrick as theater agent, bolstering its departments amid continued growth following founder Jenne Casarotto’s passing last year.
Tillett joins with immediate effect, reporting to head of film and television Jodi Shields. The seasoned agent brings nearly two decades of experience repping writers across film, TV and theater, previously working at The Agency and Knight Hall Agency. Her client roster includes Anna Symon (“Mrs Wilson,” “The Essex Serpent”), Lydia Adetunji (“His Dark Materials”), Inua Ellams (“Doctor Who”) and Grace Ofori-Attah (“Malpractice”).
Fitzpatrick comes aboard from 42 Management & Production where she served as literary manager. Her slate features both emerging and established writers including Roy Williams (“Death of England” trilogy), Tanika Gupta (“The Empress”) and John Donnelly (“The Pass”). She’ll report to head of theater Mel Kenyon.
FESTIVAL FLOURISHES
The third edition of the U.K.’s Mint Chinese Film Festival is set to unspool in Keswick from Feb. 21-23, with more than 30 Chinese and Asian film selections, including the U.K. premiere of Lou Ye‘s pandemic-themed “An Unfinished Film.”
The women-led fest, founded by Chinese film curator Yixiang Shirley Lin and Keswick Alhambra Cinema’s co-owner Carol Rennie, kicks off with Luka Yuanyuan Yang’s “Chinatown Cha-Cha” and Tsui Hark‘s 1993 fantasy pic “Green Snake.” Special screenings include Wong Kar Wai‘s “In the Mood for Love” 25th anniversary showing. The fest has expanded its scope with a new “Asia Sparks” competition section, while securing exclusive U.K. theatrical rights to Lou’s “An Unfinished Film” for nationwide release starting April 25.
CREATIVES CONNECT
The U.K.’s Picturehouse Cinemas is set to debut a new industry gathering, Picturehouse Create, aimed at bridging the gap between creatives and independent filmmaking. The three-day event will take over the exhibitor’s flagship venue, the seven-screen Picturehouse Central in London’s Piccadilly Circus, from April 3-5.
The confab will feature a mix of screenings, masterclasses, panel discussions and networking opportunities. In a bid to foster emerging talent, the event will include a live pitching session where attendees can present their projects to industry veterans.
Organizers are casting a wide net, welcoming participants regardless of filmmaking experience. Industry heavyweights from distribution, finance, production and exhibition sectors are expected to attend, alongside writers, directors, cinematographers, designers and curators.
Adding heat to the lineup, Picturehouse Create will launch a shorts competition open to all badgeholders. A committee of Picturehouse Entertainment and programming experts will curate 10 finalists for public screening during the event. The winner, selected by an independent jury of industry pros, will be unveiled April 5.
