Riwk Jaiswal’s debut film unveiled at Cannes

Kolkata-born Riwk Jaiswal made a powerful mark at the 78th Cannes Film Festival with the poster launch of his debut feature film, Bridge to Eutopia. A theatre actor turned filmmaker, Jaiswal brings raw, unfiltered realism to the screen in a story that revolves around a madwoman who unexpectedly becomes pregnant. Her journey of struggle, rejection, and survival forms the emotional core of the film.
The poster, unveiled by veteran actor Anupam Kher, filmmaker Sudipto Sen, and producer and Film Federation of India president Ravi Kottakara, features the woman and a child—symbols of those forgotten voices that exist within Kolkata but are rarely heard.
“Bridge To Eutopia is not just a film—it’s the voice from the unheard of society that must be explored,” Jaiswal said at the launch. “Launching the poster at Cannes gives the film the global presence it deserves.”
Rooted in the slums of Kolkata, the film’s cast includes children from the very communities it portrays. Jaiswal, who began his career in theatre before moving to the screen, personally conducted acting workshops in these slums, nurturing local talent to bring authenticity to the narrative.
After years of working as a junior actor, Jaiswal’s transition behind the camera is both inspiring and hard-earned. “It’s a moment of humble celebration,” he shared. “The journey has been long, but it’s been driven by sheer hard work and the blessings of the universe.”
Bridge to Eutopia is already generating buzz as a deeply symbolic and socially resonant debut—one that positions Jaiswal as a bold new voice in Indian independent cinema.