For far too long, horror has been meted out an almost step-child-like treatment in Indian contemporary fiction, whether in films or books. Now, the second edition of Wench Film Festival (WFF) is shining a light on the unexplored possibilities of this genre with two curated panel discussions.

The festival, which began on March 7, has been organised by Sapna Moti Bhavnani’s production company, Wench Films, which focuses on promoting female talent from India to the world. Commenting on this year’s theme, Bhavnani, says, “We’ve tied up with three international women collectives — NYX Horror Collective, Final Girls Berlin and Etheria Film Festival — which are using the horror/fantasy space to tell fantastic stories and will screen their selections to our audiences in India. Our first edition witnessed a tremendous response, as the brilliantly talented, unsung women heroes were recognised at our award ceremony. In its second year, WFF has taken its platform to the next level and has invited path-breaking talent.”