Festival Vision
Welcome to the Flare Cinematography Film Festival
The Flare Cinematography Film Festival is a bold initiative dedicated to celebrating the exceptional work of women cinematographers from India and around the world. Our mission is to create a dynamic platform that amplifies their voices, showcasing their unique perspectives while sparking meaningful conversations across the global film community.
By fostering an environment of collaboration and exchange, the festival seeks to elevate the craft of cinematography, promote deeper understanding, and inspire growth among filmmakers of all experience levels. It’s more than just an event – it’s a movement to drive visibility, recognition, and opportunities for women behind the lens.
Set to take place on 13th and 14th January 2026 in Mumbai, India, the Flare Cinematography Film Festival is currently seeking funding and sponsorships to support this transformative cause. While the main festival is on the horizon, we’ve already kicked off with a series of powerful events, including masterclasses and panel discussions, laying the foundation for what promises to be an extraordinary celebration of talent.
Our festival is committed to not only honouring the achievements of women cinematographers but also building bridges between emerging and established professionals. Through hands-on masterclasses led by industry experts, we provide invaluable mentorship, creating lasting connections and nurturing the next generation of cinematic visionaries.
Join us in shaping the future of cinematography. Together, we can inspire and empower women in film.
Media Partner
British Cinematographer is Europe's No.1 magazine covering the art and craft of international cinematography. Since its launch in 2002, British Cinematographer’s goal has remained unchanged: to celebrate the work of cinematographers – the creative artists who collaborate with directors and play a pivotal role in bringing their visions and their scripts to life as moving images along with other talented members of the crew
Supported by
White Wall Screenings (WWS) is co-founded by Pratik Rajen Kothari (Filmmaker/Actor). WWS celebrates short films and have screened more than 600 shorts since its inception in 2017. They host regular screenings of handpicked shorts followed by QnA with the crew.
Indian Women Cinematographers’ Collective (IWCC) is a collective of around 170 women cinematographers from all over India.
Festival Team
Pooja Gupte
Festival Director
Pooja Gupte ISC, IWCC is an Indian cinematographer based in Mumbai. Pooja is a founder of Flare Cinematography Film Festival . She is an alumnus of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute of India (SRFTI) and was selected for the prestigious Berlinale Talent Campus in Germany in 2012. She has recently become a member of Imago's Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She was also invited to present her work in Stuttgart, Germany as part of the series Making of Indian Cinema at Stuttgart-Indian Film Festival 2019.Her first feature film as DoP, Crossing Bridges won the National Award in 2014, which she had co-produced under her production house Easel Films. She was awarded the Best Cinematography for the feature film Rukh at the 5th AIFF 2018. Her filmography as a cinematographer consists of a wide range of feature films like Panchak, Silence-2, Brij Mohan Amar Rahe; short films like Gatekeeper, Safar, Wig and Carbon. She has recently got nominated for best cinematography for Panchak at MATA Saman 2025. Her recent work is Logout on ZEE5
Abhra Das
Director of Programmes
Abhra Das is a freelance film festival professional and is part of the preview team of KASHISH Pride Film Festival and Indie Meme Film Festival. He curates the cinema section of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. He works as the Senior Manager at the Film Critics Guild (FCG), India’s only registered body of film critics, chaired by Anupama Chopra. Formerly, he was the Manager of Film Programmes at Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023 and Festival Manager at Dharamshala International Film Festival 2022. He also worked with Undercurrent Lab on a lighting workshop for women gaffers, NFDC Film Bazaar from 2015-2021, and is a script reader for KASHISH QDrishti Grant. He is a trained voice over artist and a cinema enthusiast.
Divyata Gogia
Programme Co-ordinator
Divyata Gogia is a Mumbai-based cinematographer known for her poetic interplay of light, shadow, and emotion. A member of the Indian Women Cinematographers’ Collective, she has contributed to acclaimed films like Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, Prithviraj, and Gunjan Saxena. Her passion for photography, painting, gardening, and literature inspires her creative storytelling, transforming everyday moments into extraordinary cinematic art. As a festival Programme Co-ordinator, she champions diverse voices and artistic collaboration.
Swati Jain
Programme Co-ordinator
Swati Jain is a practising DOP and worked on various television and digital commercials. Swati is a member of Indian Women Cinematographers' Collective (IWCC). She was also nominated for best cinematography in the short film category at the Critic’s Choice Awards in 2023 for her short film 7 Star Dinosor.
