The Bradford International Film Festival (BRADIFF) returns on Tuesday 28 October 2025 at Pictureville Cinema, opening with the UK premiere of I’m Not An Actor (Main Actor Nahin Hoon). Supported by the Bradford South Asian Festival (BSAF), the screening will be followed by a Q&A hosted by BSAF Co-Director Aisha Khan.
Directed by Aditya Kripalani and starring acclaimed actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui (Sacred Games) alongside Chitrangada Satarupa (Tikli and Laxmi Bomb), the India–Germany co-production has already garnered international acclaim. Siddiqui won Best Actor at the New York Indian Film Festival earlier this year, while Satarupa received Best Actor (Female) and Kripalani earned a Jury Mention for Best Director at the DC South Asian Film Festival.
Shot live across India and Germany over 28 days, I’m Not An Actor is the first Indian film to be filmed entirely through a continuous video call between its two leads. The innovative production explores the boundaries between performance and reality, and between two worlds — Mumbai and Frankfurt. Associate Director Anuradha Pandey co-led the production, with Siddiqui also serving as a producer through Side Hero Entertainment, alongside Faizuddin Siddiqui and Sweta Chhabria of Mumba Devi Motion Pictures. UK-based film strategist Aman Dhillon makes his debut as Executive Producer, with distribution overseen by Bhavna Mistry.
Image: Facebook/Aditya Kripalani
Following its world premiere at Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose and a sold-out East Coast premiere at the New York Indian Film Festival, I’m Not An Actor has been met with critical praise. Celebrated filmmaker Anurag Kashyap described it as “a true indie totally built of great conversational writing,” commending its performances. Audiences have called the film “a compelling story” that evokes “tears and introspection.”
The film follows Mouni Roy (Satarupa), a struggling Mumbai actor who dreams of joining the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Adnan (Siddiqui), a retired banker in Frankfurt dealing with depression. An online audition brings them together for a day-long conversation that transforms both their lives.
During its New York run, the film was screened at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, where students and alumni participated in a post-screening Q&A. Institute Director Victoria Krane praised the film as “powerful and revelatory,” applauding its “beautifully polished performances” and “exquisite” cinematography.
Speaking ahead of the UK premiere, Chitrangada Satarupa said: “It is an incredible honour for our film I Am Not an Actor to be chosen as the opening film at the Bradford International Film Festival this year. Bradford is widely regarded as the cultural city of the UK, and that makes this recognition more special… I am truly excited to see how the people of Bradford connect with the film and experience our story.”
Director Aditya Kripalani added: “It is a true honour for I’m Not An Actor to open BRADIFF, especially in a year when Bradford celebrates its status as UK City of Culture. Festivals are as much about discovery as they are about celebration, and I look forward to experiencing the diverse films alongside our own.”
BRADIFF, co-directed by Jan Ruppe and Louisa Rose Mackleston, runs from 28 October to 2 November 2025 across multiple venues in Bradford. Returning after a successful debut, the festival continues to champion independent cinema and highlight Global Majority voices. The six-day event will feature screenings, industry panels, and networking opportunities, culminating in an awards ceremony celebrating local and international talent.
Jan Ruppe said: “We’re thrilled to open Bradford International Film Festival 2025 with the bold and inventive I Am Not An Actor. Thoughtful and amusing in equal measure, this film promises to captivate both our dedicated cinephiles and the wider community.”
With I’m Not An Actor leading the festival, BRADIFF reaffirms its commitment to showcasing bold, boundary-pushing cinema that bridges cultures and communities.
The film will receive a UK-wide theatrical release on 7 November 2025.
