Filmmaker Rima Das has been honored with the Excellence in Directing award by New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT) for her work on Village Rockstars 2. She is among 11 international filmmakers recognized for their outstanding contributions to cinema.

NYWIFT, a leading US nonprofit organization, celebrates and supports women in film, television, and digital media. Das called the award “deeply meaningful,” adding that it reflects how stories from India, told with honesty and lived experience, can resonate globally. She also noted that it reinforces her vision for a more inclusive global cinema.

Village Rockstars 2, the sequel to Das’s acclaimed Village Rockstar, premiered at the 2024 Busan International Film Festival, winning the Kim Jiseok Award for Best Film. Other honorees included Suzannah Herbert (Natchez), Cherien Dabis (All That’s Left of You), Shonali Bose (A Fly on the Wall), Rachel Immaraj (An Unquiet Mind), Elena Neuman (Looking Up), Kerstin Karlhuber (After All), Lisa Cunningham (Me Period), Jackie Quinones (Miles Away), Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni (Cutting Through Rocks), and Rachel Israel (The Floaters).

This recognition highlights the growing impact of Indian cinema on the international stage.