Indo-Latvia Film and Cultural Forum Launched with Grand Ceremony at 18th Global Film Festival Noida

Noida, India: In a significant step toward strengthening cultural and cinematic ties between India and Latvia, the Indo–Latvia Film and Cultural Forum was formally launched with great pomp and show at the 18th Global Film Festival Noida (GFFN) 2025 at the prestigious Marwah Film City, Noida. The historic launch took place amid an electrifying international atmosphere, witnessed by filmmakers, artists, students, and cinema lovers from across the globe.

The Forum was inaugurated by H.E. Juris Bone, Ambassador of Latvia to India, in the esteemed presence of Firdausul Hasan, President of the Film Federation of India (FFI) and Ms. Inga Skruzmane, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Latvia. The occasion marked a new chapter in bilateral cooperation through cinema, arts, and cultural exchange.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sandeep Marwah, Founder of Noida Film City, President of GFFN, and Chancellor of AAFT University of Media and Arts, emphasized the importance of such platforms in fostering long-term creative collaboration. He stated that the Indo–Latvia Film and Cultural Forum will act as a bridge between the creative communities of both nations, encouraging joint film productions, student exchange programs, academic cooperation, film festivals, and cultural events. Dr. Marwah highlighted that the Global Film Festival Noida, recognized as the world’s biggest academic film festival, provides the perfect international stage for launching such a visionary initiative.

Addressing the gathering, H.E. Juris Bone, Ambassador of Latvia, expressed his enthusiasm for the newly formed Forum and praised India’s dynamic film industry and educational infrastructure. He noted that cinema is a powerful medium for storytelling and mutual understanding and said that the Indo–Latvia Film and Cultural Forum will further strengthen friendship, people-to-people contact, and creative collaboration between India and Latvia.

The launch was witnessed by a large gathering of international and national filmmakers, film students, scholars, media professionals, and cinema enthusiasts, making the moment even more memorable. The festival once again proved to be an influential global platform where diplomacy, culture, education, and cinema converge, reinforcing GFFN’s role as a catalyst for international cultural relations.