Copyright Variety
A teaser has been unveiled for “A Teacher’s Gift,” a British South Asian film backed by India’s National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). Produced by Eric Ollerenshaw, directed by Artur Ribeiro (“Terra Nova”), and co-written by and starring Rajdeep Choudhury (“IRaH”) alongside Anjali Patil (“Soch”) and Anthony Calf (“One Day”), “A Teacher’s Gift” follows Rohan, an ambitious Hindi language teacher navigating cultural expectations and personal desires. Set between London and India, the story explores his bond with a sophisticated Englishman – rooted in a shared love for literature and cricket – that transcends barriers of age, culture, and convention, leading to a journey of rediscovery and reconciliation. The ensemble cast also includes Paula Lobo Antunes, Dhruv Sehgal, Virgilio Castelo, and Varun Buddhadev. The film had its European premiere at the Tribeca Festival Lisboa 2025, with Rui Tendinha, Tribeca programmer in Lisbon, describing the film as “a beautiful fusion of cultures and a heart touching emotional story.” The film played in Lisbon on the heels of earning a best feature film nomination at the BAFTA and BIFA-qualifying Iris Prize Film Festival in Wales. “For an independent British film that started its journey in the U.K. with a predominantly South Asian crew, then received support from NFDC WAVES Film Bazaar, and now selected and shown at Tribeca, has been an incredible journey,” said Ollerenshaw, a former Member of the U.K. Parliament. The premiere was attended by Francisco Pedro Balsemão, CEO of Impressa, Portugal’s largest media company and one of the key figures behind bringing the Tribeca Film Festival to Lisbon. Balsemão appreciated the inclusion of “A Teacher’s Gift” in the program, noting it demonstrates Tribeca and Tribeca Lisboa’s commitment to promoting stories and artists from around the world. The Tribeca Festival Lisboa 2025, co-founded by Robert De Niro, brought the iconic New York festival experience to Europe. This year’s edition featured appearances by Kim Cattrall, Giancarlo Esposito, and Meg Ryan, along with the Portuguese premiere of “Honeyjoon,” winner of the 2024 Tribeca Festival AT&T Untold Stories Award. Watch the teaser here:
