BUN TIKKI
Our Opening Night Greek Premiere of this contemporary Indian film, presented by the director Faraz Arif Ansari and lead actor Abhay Deol
“Bun Tikki is my love letter to the world - to every child, every parent, and everyone who believes in the transformative power of love, empathy, and kindness. I hope it sparks conversations that break barriers, bridge differences, and remind us of the kinder, happier world we're all capable of creating.” - Faraz Arif Ansari, Director/Screenwriter of Bun Tikki
Gardenia Open-Air Cinema | Friday 3 October 2025
Our Opening Night Greek premiere of this contemporary Indian film was presented by Faraz Arif Ansari and accomplished film star Abhay Deol who delivered an introduction and talk before the screening.
Bun Tikki is a coming of age film about embracing your own unique identity, and learning to love others for theirs. Shanu is a child learning to navigate the challenges of identity and belonging as he struggles to fit into society's norms and build a loving relationship with his father. Meanwhile, his grandmother, harboring secrets of her own, teaches him to embrace his uniqueness.
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Jio Studios presents a Stage5 Production:
Director/Screenwriter: Faraz Arif Ansari
Producers: Jyoti Deshpande, Dinesh Malhotro, Marijke deSouza, Manish Malhotra
Cinemeatographers: Raghav Ramadoss
Editor: Sayunkta Kaza
Music: Abhin Joshi, EK Pahadi Ladka, Faraz Arif Ansari
Cast: Shabana Azmi, Zeenat Aman, Abhay Deol, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Rohan Singh
Country: India
Language: Hindi with English subtitles
Running Time: 120 minutes
Primary Distributor: Jio Studios
Meet the Director
FARAZ ARIF ANSARI
Director Faraz Arif Ansari's maiden feature film, Bun Tikki, is off to a promising start. The Shabana Azmi, Zeenat Aman and Abhay Deol-starrer had its world premiere at the 36th Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) in California on January 5. This gives a surge of confidence to not only the debutant feature director, but also to fashion designer-turned-producer Manish Malhotra who chose it as his second production after Saali Mohabbat.
For their maiden feature, Ansari wanted to explore the parent-child relationship. Bun Tikki tells the story of seven-year-old Shanu, who grapples with self-discovery, while his father Sidhant navigates grief and societal pressures as a single parent trying to understand his child.
The director shares, "It's an absolute dream to have Bun Tikki make its global debut at the 36th Palm Springs International Film Festival. This iconic festival has always been a beacon for independent filmmakers and bold storytelling, and I'm beyond excited that our film is part of such a phenomenal line up.
Bun Tikki is my love letter to the world - to every child, every parent, and everyone who believes in the transformative power of love, empathy, and kindness. I hope it sparks conversations that break barriers, bridge differences, and remind us of the kinder, happier world we're all capable of creating.
This journey wouldn't have been possible without the incredible support of Jio Studios and the visionary Manish Malhotra, who believed in me and my story from the start, giving it the sunshine and love. My heartfelt thanks to the entire team at Palm Springs International Film Festival for giving Bun Tikki a platform to reach global audiences. I'm so proud of what we've created, and I can't wait to share it with the world. Here's to always making cinema that transcends boundaries and inspires us to imagine a brighter, better, more inclusive tomorrow."
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Dirty Boy
Our second Opening Night film was presented by director Doug Rao, with actors Stan Steinbichler and Ava Merson-O’Brien who joined audiences for a live Q&A.
Raised in an oppressive cult, a reclusive schizophrenic is framed for ritualistic murders and must prove his innocence.
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Boy On A Dolphin Tribute
Our Boy on a Dolphin tribute transformed Mandraki Beach into an open-air cinema at one of the film’s original locations.
Local performances and special guests accompanied the premiere of Hydra & Sophia: Echoes of the Dolphin. The evening concluding with a 4K restoration of the 1957 classic.
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Hydra & Sophia: Echoes of the Dophin
ArtCinema’s first original production premiered at our Boy on a Dolphin Tribute at Mandraki Beach preceding the main feature.
A combining local stories, archival material and AI enhanced visuals, it explores how the 1957 Hollywood film connected Sophia Loren and Hydra to international cinema.
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A Poet
A surprise screening at Gardenia Open-Air Cinema, featuring talks from our American guest Poet John L. Holgerson, joined by beloved Hydriot and Poet, Giannis Gavalas.
An ageing poet finds purpose mentoring a gifted teen. Though exposing his own failed pursuits may come at a cost.
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Cinema & Souvlaki
Our Cinema & Souvlaki community event returned in 2025, bringing local flavours, international cinema and audiences of all ages together in a welcoming open-air setting.
Featuring animated shorts from ANIMASYROS, Paweł Pawlikowski’s Muse, and family feature Pets on a Train to close the evening.
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Animasyros Family Shorts
During our Cinema & Souvlaki community evening at Kamini Port, ANIMASYROS founder Vassilis Karamitsanis presented animated short films curated for children and families.
Drawn from the festival’s 2025 international programme, the screening celebrated the art of animation.
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Muse
Screened at our Cinema & Souvlaki community event, where we transform the sacred Kamini Port into a vibrant open-air cinema experience.
We presented Pawel Pawlikowski’s short film about the give and take of the creative struggle. Harmony dissolves into a battle of wills between a master pianist and his temperamental muse.
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Pets On A Train
The family feature film of our Cinema & Souvlaki evening at Kamini Port.
When a crew of animal bandits embark on a routine swindle, they find themselves caught up in a train heist. It's up to Falcon, a petty thief raccoon, and Rex, a righteous police-dog, to save the animals on this high-speed runaway train.
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Dracula: A Love Story
Following the Cinema & Souvlaki programme in Kamini, guests returned to Gardenia Open-Air Cinema for one final late-night screening at Hydra Port.
Luc Besson’s dramatic reimagining of Dracula brought Closing Night to an atmospheric cinematic conclusion.
