Long Live Cinema.
An independent film festival in Pune, built around cinema that is courageous, personal and unafraid to look at the world differently.
A festival born from a cinematic legacy.
SPIFF was created to honour the spirit of an artist whose work challenged convention and gave powerful expression to stories outside the mainstream.
SPIFF? Founded in Pune · 2012
Cinema that chooses conviction over convention.
Founded in 2012 by Arogya Sena, the Smita Patil International Film Festival (SPIFF) was created to honour the legacy of the legendary actress Smita Patil.
Known for her courageous and trailblazing work in Indian cinema, Smita Patil stood firmly as an alternative voice to mainstream films. Her performances were bold, socially rooted and deeply human.
Though her life was tragically cut short at the age of 31, her contribution to cinema continues to inspire filmmakers and audiences.
What We Celebrate
Original voices, independent perspectives and films that remain with us long after the screen goes dark.
SPIFF celebrates original voices in Indian and global cinema.
Our focus is on films that are daring, innovative and unafraid to push the boundaries of conventional storytelling.
We showcase films that explore the complexity of people, society and the world around us.
The Festival Experience
Intimate screenings, conversations and encounters built around a shared love of cinema.
A festival designed to keep filmmakers and audiences close to each other.
Over the past decade, SPIFF has established itself as one of India's premier short film festivals.
It is known for carefully curated programming and a vibrant, close-knit community of cinephiles.
The two-day festival brings together enthusiastic audiences, local critics and visiting filmmakers in an environment that encourages meaningful engagement with cinema.
Beyond screenings, SPIFF is also known for intimate conversations and exclusive dinner gatherings, allowing filmmakers to connect, reflect and exchange ideas in an informal, unhurried setting.
A home for cinema and conversation.
SPIFF's screenings take place in Pune in a setting deeply connected to India's film culture. The festival brings filmmakers, audiences and cinephiles together in a space where cinema is not simply watched, but discussed, questioned and shared.
Programming Philosophy
Selection begins with the film, not its scale, origin or reputation.
Discuss.
Discover. The SPIFF approach
We look for films with a point of view and filmmakers with something worth saying.
The film comes first.
Every selection is approached as cinema in its own right, regardless of budget, profile or geography.
Original voices matter.
We value filmmakers willing to explore unfamiliar territory, difficult questions and distinctive ways of seeing.
Conversation matters too.
A festival should do more than project films. It should create space for audiences and filmmakers to encounter, discuss and engage with the work.
Preserve the filmmaker's voice.
Our curatorial approach respects individuality and the conviction behind the work rather than asking cinema to conform to a formula.
Carrying the Legacy Forward.
SPIFF remains deeply committed to honouring the spirit of Smita Patil by spotlighting films that reflect the courage, creativity and conviction she embodied throughout her career.
At its heart, the festival is a celebration of cinema that matters, stories that stay, and voices that refuse to be ignored.