Film Conclave 2025, co-produced by ReelN Ltd, the flagship platform for the UK, Indian, Indian-international film co-production, has announced its full programme ahead of its return to London on Monday 26th May 2025. 

Held at the Skyline Tower Suites by Blue Orchid Hotels, the one-day event forms part of India Week by EPG, a broader initiative spotlighting cross-cultural collaboration and economic engagement between Great Britain and India. 

The day begins with opening remarks from Pratik Dattani, Managing Director of EPG, setting the stage for a dynamic series of panels, keynote sessions and curated networking opportunities. With an emphasis on film as a cultural and commercial bridge, this year’s conclave focuses on how global partnerships can be fostered through storytelling, policy support and strategic investment.

The first panel discussion, India–UK Co-Production Success Stories & The Path Ahead, delves into lessons from existing collaborations and the evolving future of international co-productions. Moderated by acclaimed TV producer Riffi Khan (Come Dine With Me, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!), the panel features a distinguished lineup. 

Shruti Rajkumar (Invest India, architect of India’s global filming incentives), Anupam Sharma (Australia India Film Council), Neeraj Churi (Lotus Visual Productions, producer of the Sundance-winning Cactus Pears) and Neil Biswas (award-winning writer/director – Bradford Riots, Darkness Visible).

Following scheduled meetings for filmmakers and investors, delegates will reconvene for an In Conversation with Gurinder Chadha OBE (Bend It Like Beckham), hosted by Duncan Carson from the Independent Cinema Office (ICO). The session promises a candid discussion about representation, creative risk-taking and Chadha’s lasting influence on diasporic cinema.

The final panel of the day, Increasing Audience Access and Distribution, investigates audience dynamics across the two regions. With Indian films accounting for nearly a third of UK cinema releases in 2022 but only 1.8% of box office revenue, the panel will question how language, themes and market familiarity can become either obstacles or opportunities. It will explore the barriers preventing films from reaching wider audiences, the role of streaming platforms, and the potential for broader cross-cultural engagement. 

Moderated by filmmaker and educator Reshel Shah-Kapoor (God Children), the discussion includes cinema business luminaries. Agnieszka Moody (Head of International Relations, British Film Institute – BFI), Pranab Kapadia (founder of Moviegoers Entertainment and BAFTA member) and Bhavna Mistry (former VP of Eros International).

The day will close with reflections from the event’s co-producer, Aman Dhillon, Founding Director of ReelN Ltd. 

Pratik Dattani, Managing Director of EPG said: “The world is eager for authentic, diverse and untold stories from India. Through The Film Conclave, we are not just celebrating Indian cinema; we are providing financial and strategic support to bring these powerful narratives to a global audience.” 

Aman Dhillon adds: “ReelN is proud to be a partner of Film Conclave and excited to curate the programme for its second year! The film co-production market launched this year will bridge a gap and provide a much-needed platform for film financing discussions.”

From 6pm, the atmosphere shifts with an exclusive Evening Drinks Reception, in partnership with the parental controls app Parent Geenee, an initiative supported by actor R Madhavan. Hosted by Riffi Khan and Aman Dhillon, the reception will welcome over 200 guests from across Netflix, BBC, ITV, Bollywood and beyond, featuring special appearances. 

Confirmed attendees include producer Sidharth Jain (Trial By Fire), music producer Rishi Rich (Gully Boy), actors Kulvinder Ghir (Picture This), Shobu Kapoor (Polite Society) and journalist Anila Dhami, alongside many others.

A highlight of the evening will be a Q&A between entertainment journalist Anuj Radia and Bollywood’s top casting director Mukesh Chhabra, whose credits span Gangs of Wasseypur, Dangal, Scam 1992, Dil Bechara and Black Warrant. The conversation will explore Chhabra’s role in shaping Indian cinema’s new wave and the evolution of casting as a craft.

EPG is an economic and strategy consulting firm with offices in the UK, India and Uganda, which offers market entry advisory, strategic communications, trade and investment promotion, economic analysis and corporate events to businesses and governments across the world. 

India Week provides a global forum to share the story of India’s growth with the world. It is an annual series of events taking place across the UK, starting in 2023 and providing a gateway for businesses and change-makers to understand the economic, political and cultural nuances of working with India.

The ‘India Story’ abroad is often presented through a narrow lens, be it focusing only on business and the economy, society or policy landscape. Given its diversity, everything about India, and its opposite, is true in unison. India Week aims to help ‘India watchers’ better understand this and make high-level business and policy connections. 

India Week is a registered trademark and has expanded from being known as UK-India Week to incorporating not just the bilateral dialogue between these countries, but helping companies have a truly global perspective. Our guests include world leaders, governments, industry experts, innovators, founders, change-makers and investors. India Week 2025 is the place to engage in high level discussions on the New India.

India continues to lead global economic growth, outpacing other major economies. As the world grapples with the realities of a multipolar world and potential disruption from the new Presidency in Washington. The UK and India stand poised to build a dynamic and mutually beneficial partnership, capitalising on shared opportunities and addressing common challenges.

The recent elections in both nations have paved the way for renewed dialogue and collaboration. As Western economies diversify supply chains and reduce dependencies on China, India stands to benefit. The much-anticipated resumption of discussions on the UK-India Free Trade Agreement adds further momentum to this growing relationship. 

EPG’s India Week 2025 is an annual get together of change-makers, policy and business leaders for high-level discussions on pertinent topics. India Week offers a series of events, from the Ideas for India conference on policy, business and economics to the Film Conclave, introducing a UK-India film coproduction market. It concludes with an elegant black-tie dinner, capping off a sequence of impactful activities.

Among the highlights of India Week is Film Conclave. The inaugural Film Conclave in 2024 was part of the annual India Week and featured insightful conversations with leading industry figures from Indian cinema, including Pranab Kapadia, the distributor of films like Jigra and Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani and Sudipto Sarkar, the writer of Chandu Champion. 

The event also featured Taha Shah Badussha from Netflix’s Heeramandi, who shared insights on his journey and the evolving world of streaming. Alongside this, we explored opportunities for UK and Indian actors in each other’s industries, the transformative impact of OTT platforms, AI and VFX on cinema and strategies for securing OTT deals. We featured the cinematic legacy of filmmaker Vijay Anand and his actor brother Dev Anand through an exclusive exhibition titled The Anand Brothers: A Journey Through Film.