Not-for-profit organisation Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) in association with the Wim Wenders Stiftung (Wim Wenders Foundation) and in collaboration with Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Mumbai announce ‘Wim Wenders – King Of The Road – The India Tour’.
A comprehensive retrospective celebrating the extraordinary career of Wim Wenders, this landmark event marks the 79-year-old acclaimed German filmmaker, photographer and author’s inaugural visit to India, offering audiences a unique opportunity to experience the breadth and depth of his cinematic artistry.
From February 5th to 23rd, 2025, cinephiles in 5 major Indian cities – Mumbai, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram, Kolkata and New Delhi – will have the unparalleled pleasure of witnessing 18 of Wenders’ most significant works, spanning feature films, documentaries and short films. This meticulously curated selection will showcase Wenders’ prolific career spanning over half a century, from his early groundbreaking New German Cinema pieces to his recent critically acclaimed works. This event is poised to be more than just a film screening; offering audiences a first-of-its-kind intimate cinematic pilgrimage. The master of world cinema will personally attend screenings in each city, engaging with audiences, participating in Q&A sessions and fostering meaningful dialogue with film students and industry professionals alike.
Wim Wenders states, ““In all my travels around the world over the years, it seems astonishing that somehow, India fell off the map, not just because it is a country with an abundance of landscapes and images to explore, but also because it is a country where cinema is like a religion. I have known of Film Heritage Foundation’s dedication to preserving, restoring and bringing India’s precious film heritage back to contemporary audiences, so I was very happy when Shivendra invited me to come to India for a retrospective of my films. I am excited to have the opportunity to travel across the country and present my films, and who knows what will emerge from my time on the road in India.”
The retrospective will run from February 5th, 2025 to 23rd, 2025. However, the renowned director, celebrated for his improvisational and often location-driven filmmaking style—a style aptly described as “on the road”—will be extending his stay in India. He will use this opportunity to film new material across the diverse landscapes of Rajasthan and Kerala as part of his debut India tour, continuing his creative process until March 1st, 2025. This demonstrates not only Wenders’ dedication to his art but also a fascinating juxtaposition between a retrospective celebrating established cinematic works and the ongoing creation of new film within the same cultural context.
Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Filmmaker And Director, Film Heritage Foundation states, “It’s a dream come true for Film Heritage Foundation to have Wim Wenders, one of the greatest masters of world cinema come to India to support the foundation and to be able to mount a retrospective on a scale that attempts to showcase the breadth and depth of a career of over 50 years in almost every form of cinema from shorts to features, documentaries and 3D films. Wim Wenders is not just a filmmaker, but a poet and a thinker of cinema who has influenced generations of filmmakers including myself. He is truly the King of the Road, but he has never been to India – and it is going to be the adventure of a lifetime to travel across the country with him and show his films. He is also a champion of film heritage – recipient of the 2024 International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) Award – having made some of the most remarkable films on filmmakers besides having archived and restored his films, thanks to which audiences in five cities in India will have the extraordinary opportunity to watch these beautiful restorations presented by the master himself.”
Bjorn Ketels, Director, Goethe Institut Mumbai states, “The films of Wim Wenders have played a pivotal role in the cultural work of the Goethe-Institut (The cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany). We are therefore thrilled to join hands with the Film Heritage Foundation and Wim Wenders Foundation in welcoming Wim Wenders to India. He is one of the pioneers of the New German Cinema (Neues Deutsches Kino) and is considered to be one of the most important representatives of contemporary cinema. The programme includes showcasing 18 of his most acclaimed films in 5 cities in India. This is the first time that such a substantial offering of his work and a chance to interact with the legend himself is being presented in India and we hope that film lovers, students and professionals will enjoy the opportunity and find the experience enriching.”
With a long-term vision to celebrate the legacy of doyens of cinema and exhibit restored film classics from over the past decades, Film Heritage Foundation has brought icons such Giuseppe Tornatore and Sir Christopher Nolan to India in the past.
The screenings are free of charge and available to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis.
Wim Wenders’ career demonstrates a remarkable versatility, spanning fictional features and documentaries, photography, and authorship. His films are characterized by a distinctive style blending poetic realism with introspective characters navigating existential themes against the backdrop of evocative landscapes. Wenders’ early work, including Alice in the Cities (1974) and Kings of the Road (1976), established his place within the New German Cinema movement. His international breakthrough came with Paris, Texas (1984), followed by the visually stunning and philosophically profound Wings of Desire (1987). His documentaries, such as Buena Vista Social Club (1999) and Pina (2011), showcase his ability to capture both artistic lives and cultural phenomena. His most recent film, Perfect Days (2023), garnered an Oscar nomination. Recurring themes in Wenders’ work include identity, memory, the search for meaning, and a fascination with the American West. His melancholic moods and exploration of alienation are complemented by his artistic innovations. The breadth of his achievements has led to numerous awards, including prizes from Cannes, Venice, and Berlin film festivals, a BAFTA award, and multiple Academy Award and Grammy nominations.