Bania, Romania | July 11, 2025 — Acclaimed Indian filmmaker Kumar Raj has been awarded Best Director at the prestigious Cinematic European Film Festival 2025, hosted in the culturally rich town of Bania, Southern Transylvania. The award was presented for his critically celebrated films Ameena and Tara, which were praised for their humanistic storytelling, emotional depth, and universal appeal.
The win is a significant global recognition for Indian independent cinema. “This isn’t just a personal milestone,” Raj said during his acceptance speech. “It’s a tribute to the power of stories that unite hearts across borders.”
The lead of the film Tara is international award-winning actress Rekha Rana, whose compelling performance continues to receive global acclaim. The film has already made its mark for its emotional simplicity and deep spiritual undertones.
Raj’s latest film, Ameena, is a bold, women-centric story that continues to resonate deeply with Indian and international audiences. Kumar Raj’s present film Ameena is also women-centric and is running successfully in its 68th week in India.
“AMEENA – The Film They Tried to Bury. Now in Its 68th Glorious Week Across India.”
The story of Ameena follows a young Indian woman who travels to France — not for escape or glamour — but to confront her rapist. It is a piercing tale of resistance and raw courage, reflecting a woman’s determination to hold power accountable when systems fail.
Jury member Antonin Ionescu hailed Kumar Raj as “a director who respects silence, pain, and hope equally. His cinema is not loud, but it echoes deeply.”
Now in its second edition, the Cinematic European Film Festival is unlike any other — founded by artists, teachers, filmmakers, and musicians who believe that storytelling must remain rooted in truth, not commerce. This year’s theme, “Cinema Without Nations,” saw participation from over 90 films across 35 countries.
As the sun set over the terracotta rooftops of Bania, Kumar Raj concluded:
“This award is not the end — it’s the beginning. I will keep telling stories that don’t just move minds, but stir souls.”
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