Kashyap Seeks New Cinema Language at MIFFest

Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap is currently the jury president at the Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest), where he is also conducting a masterclass. He expressed his primary interest in discovering a new cinematic language, particularly from younger directors who approach storytelling differently.

Kashyap believes that contemporary filmmakers navigate a vastly altered creative landscape, influenced by AI, social media, and abundant information. He asserted that authenticity is not a stylistic choice but a fundamental requirement for effective filmmaking, crucial for engaging audiences by depicting reality.

Reflecting on his two-decade career, Kashyap noted that while budget limitations initially guided his films toward grounded narratives, he maintains that true authenticity transcends visual style. He believes that locally rooted stories achieve global resonance precisely because of their cultural depth.

He identified shared struggles across mature Asian film industries like South Korea, Japan, China, and India. These include increasingly short audience attention spans and the vast array of choices presented by streaming services, posing significant challenges for contemporary cinema, especially independent productions.