US Congress Recognizes North American Marathi Film Festival (NAFA) 2025; Festival to Showcase Marathi Cinema on a Global Stage
US Congress Recognizes North American Marathi Film Festival (NAFA) 2025; Festival to Showcase Marathi Cinema on a Global Stage
San Jose, July 24, 2025: The North American Marathi Film Association (NAFA), founded last year by acclaimed entrepreneur and National Award-winning producer Abhijit Gholap (known for Deool and Bharatiya ), has received recognition from the United States Congress . NAFA was established to promote Marathi cinema and introduce North America to the richness of Marathi culture. The annual film festival is held in San Jose, California , and has become a prestigious platform for showcasing Marathi films in the West.
Recently, Congressman Shri Thanedar , a Marathi-origin representative in the US, introduced NAFA and its founder Gholap in a speech in the US House of Representatives, extending best wishes in Marathi and commending their cultural contributions.
He noted that NAFA plays a significant role in preserving and promoting the diversity of Marathi cinema and traditions across North America, describing it as a cultural bridge between Maharashtra and the US.
The NAFA 2025 Film Festival will take place from July 25-27 at The California Theatre, San Jose , featuring five world premieres , 16 short films , student sections , masterclasses , and performances. Prominent names like Mohan Agashe, Amol Palekar, Sonali Kulkarni, Mahesh Kothare , and Madhur Bhandarkar will attend. The event is supported by 57 Marathi organizations under BMM USA .
