The Team

The hands behind the spotlight.

A passionate team of filmmakers, programmers, journalists and producers — many of whom have spent decades inside the Indian film industry — has come together to build CineDream Kolkata as a love letter to every person who has ever sat in a darkened cinema and waited for the screen to light up.

Founder & Organizer

Mr. Ayub Khan

Mr. AYUB KHAN is an award-winning director who has received numerous awards for his short film "Family First". He began his journey as an Exhibitor in 1981 with the movie 'Naseeb', which became a major hit owing to its grand star cast. He continued as an Exhibitor for several years and was associated with landmark films such as Kranti, Silsila and Nikah. In 1985, he stepped into Distribution with the movie 'Triveni', starring Raj Babbar, Rati Agnihotri, Suresh Oberoi and Shakti Kapoor. In 1988, he ventured into Direction, where he had the opportunity to assist Gulzar Saheb on the film 'Lebaas' and the celebrated television series 'Mirza Ghalib'. His dedicated work in the early stages of his career showcased his talent across some hit projects between 1990–2000, including 'Apradhinee' with Mr. Vinod Sharma as Producer/Director and starring actress Ranjeeta (known for Laila-Majnu) in a double role. Mr. Khan was also associated with the iconic Zee TV show 'Banegi Apni Baat' — interestingly, R. Madhavan made his industry debut with this show. He went on to work on films titled 'Andha Inteqam' and 'Zameer Ki Awaz', both with Mr. Swaroop Kumar; and 'Agni Morcha', which starred legendary actors including Dharmendra. In the year 2000, he made films like 'Jahan Tum Le Chalo' as Production Designer, 'Be-Lagaam' as Story & Executive Producer, and 'Mussa: The Most Wanted' as Creative Director. Mr. Khan felt he should also upgrade his processes and techniques to keep pace with the system, and that is how E4U ENTERPRISES was founded and registered as a Distribution and Production Company. The company has released films like 'Murder Madhuri', 'Yeh Toh Too Much Hoga' and 'Dare You', with many more in the pipeline including '3 Dev' starring Kay Kay Menon and Prosenjit. E4U ENTERPRISES has hosted many entertainment events and has created platforms for upcomers, making a name for itself in the industry by encouraging and launching fresh talents and providing a roof for new actors and artists. In recent years, E4U ENTERPRISES has become one of the most sought-after production houses, generating extraordinary talents who are constantly aiming to set special standards in the Indian film industry. Beyond CineDream, Mr. Khan is also the Organizer of CineDreams International Film Festival, Mumbai, and the Organizer of Lucknow International Film Festival, Lucknow (U.P.) — carrying his love for cinema across three of India's most significant cultural hubs.
Festival Crew
Anil Dubey
Festival Director · Writer, Actor & Director

Anil Dubey

Anil Dubey is a renowned Writer, Actor and Director with over three decades of experience in the Indian film and television industry. He started his career as Assistant Director in Shekhar Kapur's landmark film 'Bandit Queen'.

Saikat Das
Creative Director

Saikat Das

Saikat is a versatile figure in the entertainment industry, excelling as a filmmaker, music composer, actor, singer, and the Director of the Indian International Short Film Festival Awards and the Global Independent Film Festival of India in Kolkata.

Simran Ahuja
Festival Host

Simran Ahuja

We are delighted to have the esteemed Ms. Simran Ahuja as our hostess. A multifaceted talent, Simran is celebrated as Ms. India, an accomplished actress, and a renowned TV host.

Himanshu Jhunjhunwala
Media Head

Himanshu Jhunjhunwala

Himanshu Jhunjhunwala is one of the senior most professionals working in Bollywood. He has been a Public Relation Officer for more than 5000 projects including movies (500+), music albums (500+), and events (3000+).

Mark Your Calendar

2 & 3 December 2026. A festival of light.

Screenings
Dec 2 – 3, 2026
Venue
PVR INOX — AVANI MALL, Howrah
Awards Ceremony
Dec 3 · 7:00 – 10:00 PM
Submissions Open
Open Now