Parul University VFDF 4.0: Vadodara Film & Design Festival Highlights

Parul University’s Vadodara Film & Design Festival 4.0 Brings Together Iconic Voices of Cinema, Leaves Behind Conversations that Will Stay Forever

Hosted by the Vadodara-based Parul University’s Faculty of Design, the fourth edition of the Vadodara Film & Design Festival (VFDF 4.0) witnessed an iconic gathering of talented artists like Vrajesh Hirjee, Rajat Kapoor, Sudhir Mishra, and Aseem Chhabra, among others for a celebration of a vibrant mix of cinema, design, and dialogue. Over the course of the festival, the campus turned into a space where ideas moved freely, and where people engaged with creativity not just as spectators, but as participants.

What stood out this year was the way the festival was experienced. It was more about actively engaging in the festival rather than just attending it. Giving the festival a more organic feel, the conversations happening at the sessions moved beyond into corridors, classrooms, studios and shared spaces. 

Actor Rajat Kapoor’s talk carried a quiet honesty that resonated deeply with the aspiring design students in the audience, actor Vrajesh Hirjee brought warmth and enthusiasm to the festival. Sharing impactful insights into filmmaking Sudhir Mishra and Sarita Patil brought their expertise to the festival. Putting a lens of branding on storytelling; KV Sridhar (Pops) and Arun Iyer engaged with the audience. Adding further perspective to the festival, Rahul Rawail and Niraj Shah discussed about the evolving nature of their craft. 

Adding yet another depth of layer to the film and design festival, Daman Thakore with his 74-year old Lal Pari MG, spoke about the history and the its journey. The session was a constant reminder of the time when design was not just about function, but also very much about character. 

Reflecting on the festival, President of Parul University Dr. Devanshu Patel noted that, “such platforms are essential in creating meaningful learning environments, where students are able to engage directly with practitioners and understand the realities behind the work.” 

The festival’s experience was taken up a notch through the masterclasses and workshops that focused on process as much as outcome. Iconic film industry voices such as Pan Nalin, Prathamesh Thombre, Akshit Malhotra, and Pravinsinh Solanki conducted master classes along with hands-on workshops led by Dominique Welinski, Rajat Kapoor, Shital Verma, Param Sahib, Tehzeeb Khurana, Nitesh Mohanty, and Aparna Sud. 

Blending the industry voices with student innovation, Faculty of Design’s Annual Student Curation Display, centered on the theme of Sustainability and Circularity, took the center stage at VFDF 4.0. 

The exhibition brought together projects of students from various domains of design including Product Design, Interior and Furniture Design, Fashion and Technology, Communication Design, VFX Animation, UI/UX with AI and Film and Television. From bio textiles developed using organic waste to digital solutions focused on reducing the negative environmental impact, the annual exhibition was a reflection of increasing awareness among students about the role design plays in combating the real world challenges. The student-led flea market Taam Jahan also added charm to the overall festival. 

Parul University, though  initiatives like the Vadodara Film and Design Festival, continues to bridge the gap between academia and industry, creating spaces where learning and practice go hand in hand, and where students are trained to be ready to step into the world with preparation, perspective, and purpose.