IRS Officer Anwesh’s Indie Film Kathakar Ki Diary Selected for Prestigious AL ESTE–San Marcos 2026 Festival Across Four Countries
In a remarkable achievement for independent Indian cinema, Anwesh, an IRS officer currently serving as Additional Commissioner in the GST Department in Pune, has earned international recognition for his crowdfunded indie film Kathakar Ki Diary, which has been officially selected for the prestigious 17th AL ESTE–San Marcos International Film Festival 2026.
The film, created with limited financial resources but immense artistic commitment, will now be showcased across four countries — Peru, Colombia, Argentina, and France — between June 18 and June 28, 2026, as part of the globally recognized film festival circuit.
At a time when mainstream commercial cinema dominates the entertainment industry, the success of Kathakar Ki Diary is being seen as a powerful example of how passion-driven storytelling and collective artistic effort can break barriers and reach international audiences.
The film was produced through crowdfunding and brought together more than 200 artists and technicians from Maharashtra, Odisha, and Jharkhand. According to the makers, most contributors worked voluntarily without charging professional fees, driven by belief in the project and its storytelling vision.
Several talented technicians associated with the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) also joined the project, including late digital intermediate artist Krishna, whose contribution is being remembered as an important part of the film’s creative journey.
Far from being a conventional commercial film, Kathakar Ki Diary: The Story of Ordinary Lives explores the emotional realities and struggles of marginalized individuals through five interconnected narratives. Each story reflects different dimensions of survival, dignity, resilience, and human vulnerability in contemporary India.
One segment follows a cancer-stricken photographer racing against time to preserve memories and meaning through his camera. Another powerful storyline centers around a transwoman portrayed by Yogesh Jadhav, whose emotional performance has reportedly moved both audiences and activists.
The film also features actor Kapil Bhagwat as a struggling musician whose life journey reflects elements of director Anwesh’s own connection with performing arts. Another story focuses on a tribal athlete from the remote regions of Jharkhand and Odisha, portrayed by Daniel, capturing themes of aspiration and perseverance despite limited opportunities.
A particularly emotional dimension of the film comes through the performance of Baby Aarohi Chatterjee, whose portrayal of innocence and vulnerability adds emotional depth to the narrative structure.
The film has already gained appreciation at several national and international film festivals before its latest selection at AL ESTE–San Marcos 2026, a globally respected platform known for promoting auteur-driven, experimental, and socially relevant cinema.
Founded in 2008, the AL ESTE International Film Festival initially focused on connecting Peruvian and Latin American audiences with cinema from Central and Eastern Europe. Over time, the festival expanded its global vision and now actively showcases films from Asia and Latin America through editions hosted in multiple countries.
The 2026 edition marks a new phase for the festival through its collaboration with the National University of San Marcos, regarded as the oldest university in the Americas. This year’s festival theme, “Monsters, the Impossible Beasts,” explores social and institutional crises through cinematic storytelling.
Festival organizers have described AL ESTE as a platform dedicated to “risk-taking cinema,” often highlighting bold, unconventional, and deeply human narratives. The selection of Kathakar Ki Diary is being viewed as recognition of its raw storytelling style and its portrayal of ordinary lives with emotional honesty.
The film has also received appreciation from several prominent personalities in the Indian film industry, including veteran Bollywood actor Shatrughan Sinha, filmmaker Sai Kabir, and director Sejal Shah, among others.
Speaking about the journey of the film, director Anwesh said the project was created through a humble collective effort and reflected his belief that cinema and public service can coexist meaningfully. He described the international recognition as only the beginning of a much larger creative journey.
The success of Kathakar Ki Diary is also drawing attention to the growing influence of independent Indian filmmakers who are creating globally relevant stories outside the commercial studio system, often relying on community support, artistic collaboration, and deeply rooted social narratives.
