Mumbai Nights – Cinema and Art in Dialogue
In collaboration with the Ludwig Museum Koblenz, a special selection of Indian films will be presented to accompany the exhibition “Sudarshan Shetty – A Breath Held Long” (12 June–16 August 2026). Over three evenings, the programme offers diverse perspectives on the country – ranging from bustling metropolises to dream worlds and fateful life journeys.
Visitors to the Ludwig Museum will receive a reduced admission price upon presentation of their admission ticket at the cinema box office.
In the exhibition “A Breath Held Long” by the Indian artist Sudarshan Shetty, familiar everyday objects are staged in poetic, often enigmatic installations, opening up new perspectives on transience and human existence. Between stillness and movement, a sensory, almost meditative world of experience emerges, in which urban reality – such as the pulsating life of Mumbai – intertwines with philosophical questions about rhythm and breath.
To complement this, the film series “Mumbai Nights – Cinema and Art in Dialogue” at the Odeon-Apollo-Kinocenter in Koblenz will present an exceptional work of Indian cinema on three dates at 7.30 pm. The team from the Ludwig Museum will open each screening with a short introduction. After the film, you are warmly invited to join in an open discussion, share your thoughts and impressions.
1) The festival opens on 16 June 2026 with “All We Imagine as Light” (original version with subtitles) by director Payal Kapadia. The film follows three women in Mumbai whose lives oscillate between work, longing and social constraints. Through quiet, observant imagery, a sensitive portrait of women’s lived realities unfolds, ultimately leading into an almost magical, timeless world beyond the metropolis.
2) On 14 July 2026, this is followed by “Last Film Show” by Pan Nalin, a touching homage to the power of cinema: Young Samay discovers his passion for film and finds himself torn between family expectations and the desire to tell stories. Through warm, nostalgic imagery, the film recounts the magic of first cinema experiences and the unshakeable belief in one’s own vision.
3) To conclude the programme, Danny Boyle’s internationally acclaimed film “Slumdog Millionaire” will be screened on 11 August 2026. The story of Jamal, an orphaned boy competing for millions on a quiz show, unfolds as a fast-paced blend of romance, social drama and fairy tale. Every correct answer takes him back to his past, revealing how closely chance, memory and hope are interwoven.
Three films – three perspectives on India – and an exhibition that brings all this together in a fascinating way. This extraordinary interplay of art and cinema invites you to look more closely and perhaps, for a moment, to hold your breath.