NYIFF 2026 - Vimukt (In Search of the Sky) and Aasmani

Vimukt (In Search of the Sky)
Director: Jitank Singh Gurjar
Starring: Nikhil Yadav, Raghvendra Singh Bhadoriya, Meghna Agarawal
Run time: 1 hour 27 minutes
Language: Braj Bhasha

Synopsis:
A slice of lite tale from an Indian village; a family where an old underprivileged couple is trying hard to make their ends meet while their mentally unstable son of 26 years starts to feel like a burden onto the father's shoulders, as the father struggles with his own old age and the family's daily bread, things take a twist when convinced by the idea that her son will heal if he takes a dip in the sacred Ganges at the MahaKumbh, the mother manages to convince the father and all three of them head to MahaKumbh, the biggest religious gathering in the world that's happening after 144years, on a picturesque journey which unfolds na spiritual experience for the son.

Jitank Singh Gurjar (born 31st October) is an Indian filmmaker and theatre artist who began his creative journey in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, where he became actively involved in theatre. Over time, his interest in storytelling evolved into a passion for cinema. A self-taught filmmaker, Jitank learned editing, cinematography, script writing, direction, and the overall craft of filmmaking through a hands-on, experience-driven process. His work reflects a deep connection to regional narratives and grounded storytelling. His short film "Baasan", a regional art piece based on rural folklore, marked his debut as a director and producer. The film was officially screened at the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and at the Marché Du Film, Cannes, gaining recognition for its authentic voice and aesthetic. Jitank's first feature film, In Search of the Sky (Vimukt), had its world premiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF 2025), where it received the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film. Continuing his exploration of identity, freedom, and regional consciousness, the film furthers his pursuit of a deeply cinematic language rooted in lived experience.

Aasmani
Director: Sayani Gupta
Starring: Revathy Asha, Daria Bedi, Abhay Kaul
Run time: 30 minutes
Language: English, Hindi

Synopsis:
In Hindi (an Indian language), Aasmani means that shade of light blue which is the colour of the sky. To Smita, a spunky woman in her sixties, her steadfast companion of over five decades, a powder blue vintage FIAT called Aasmani is the very sky that shaped her life. They had journeyed through all the hues of life. Seasons, landscapes and relationships changed but Smita and Aasmani stayed together. In the winter of their lives, Smita and Aasmani's precious bond turns increasingly precarious. They find themselves struggling with dwindling funds to maintain functionality and questions of relevance. There is growing pressure to replace Aasmani with a more modern cost effective alternative. Desperate to hold on to Aasmani, Smita partners with her razor-sharp 10-year-old granddaughter Tiya to find a way to save her. Will they be able to save Aasmani? Or will Aasmani do her own saving? Buckle up and get ready for a bumpy but never-not-fun ride.

Sayani Gupta is an acclaimed Indian actor, writer, and producer from India. An alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII, Pune), she has built a 14-year career defined by fierce & unconventional choices across film, theatre, and streaming. Known for her versatility as an actor, Sayani has effortlessly shape-shifted through characters from various milieus & socio-economic backgrounds. She has worked in innumerable feature films in multiple languages that have travelled to and won awards at major film festivals in the world like Sundance Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and Busan International Film Festival to name a few. Her work is featured on all streaming platforms including Netflix, Amazon, AppleTV, iTV, JioHotstar, Zee5 and SonyLiv. She starred in the short film Shameless, which qualified for the Oscars in 2021. In the OTT space, Four More Shots Please! has been one of the most popular Indian shows globally. Inside Edge for Amazon Prime Video was the first original series to be created in India, while Axone is one of the top films on Netflix since 2020. Inside Edge and Four More Shots Please! were also nominated for the International Emmy Awards in 2018 and 2020, respectively. Sayani starred in Delhi Crime (Season 3), a franchise that won the International Emmy in 2020 for Best Drama Series. A dynamic storyteller with a keen artistic sensibility, Sayani continues to explore new dimensions of creative expression - bringing together her years of experience in performance, collaboration, and storytelling to shape compelling narratives across mediums. Sayani has ventured into her creative journey as a filmmaker. She has just completed her debut short film Aasmani, which she has written, directed & produced under her company Sayani Gupta Movies. Aasmani got tremendous feedback from the Slamdance Script Lab, has won multiple Best Script awards internationally and is now ready for the world premiere. Sayani is currently working on her debut feature film as well.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Indo-American Arts Council