Indian auteur Anurag Kashyap, whose latest directorial feature “Bandar” marks his return behind the camera, is at this year’s Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) as jury president while also leading a masterclass titled “Unfiltered Realism.” But rather than having all the answers, the veteran filmmaker is hoping to discover something new.
“As jury president, what I’m really looking for is a new cinematic language,” Kashyap tells Variety. “I’m interested in seeing how younger filmmakers tell stories in ways my generation couldn’t.”
Kashyap believes today’s filmmakers are entering an entirely different creative landscape. AI tools, social media and an overwhelming abundance of information have transformed not only how films are made but also how audiences receive them.
Looking back on more than two decades of filmmaking, Kashyap pushed back on a common assumption. “Staying real isn’t a choice,” he added. “Whether I’m directing, producing or acting, you have to stay real. Only then can you fully play out reality and truly engage your audience.”
He acknowledges that earlier in his career, limited budgets and available technology naturally pushed his films toward grounded storytelling. But he argues that authenticity has never been about visual style.
