At WIFF Mumbai’s sixth pre-festival screening, 17-year-old Kai deBenedictis premiered Roots Across Continents, blending personal heritage and global history in a moving documentary that connected family stories with world events. The #Newsdesk reports.
The Waterfront Indie Film Festival’s sixth pre-festival screening on August 13, 2025, at Rangshila Theatre, Versova, featured the India premiere of Roots Across Continents by 16-year-old Kai deBenedictis. This moving documentary blends personal heritage and global history, tracing family stories across Italy, America, Ethiopia, and India, set against pivotal world events. The screening included a panel with Festival Director Deepa Gahlot, a networking adda at Sathe’s, and a special 100% entry fee waiver for documentary filmmakers attending ahead of WIFF Mumbai 2025.
Waterfront Indie Film Festival – 6th Pre-Festival Screening & Networking Event

Date: Wednesday, 13th August 2025
Venue: Rangshila Theatre, Versova – Home of WIFF Mumbai
Film: Roots Across Continents
Filmmaker: Kai deBenedictis

The Waterfront Indie Film Festival (WIFF) Mumbai team welcomed a full house for its sixth monthly pre-festival screening at Rangshila Theatre, hosting the India premiere of Roots Across Continents, a self-produced documentary by 17-year-old historian and filmmaker Kai DeBenedictis.

The atmosphere was charged with pride and excitement as Kai’s mother, sister, maternal grandfather and grandmother, and extended family members attended, marking an unforgettable milestone in the young filmmaker’s journey.

The Story Behind the Film
The idea for Roots Across Continents emerged during the COVID lockdown when Kai’s father began tracing their Italian roots, unearthing photographs of relatives from previous generations. Among the discoveries was Uncle Henry, who had died during World War II.

Both the Italian-American and Indian sides of the family had carefully preserved archival photographs. Once Kai completed the family tree, he located historical film clips and documents from online archives and American museums.

The documentary opens in the World War I era with an ancestor who was a celebrated boxer and traces the family’s journey across pivotal moments of the 20th century.

Mumbai Connections & Untold Stories
On the Indian side, Kai’s great-grandfather was part of Mumbai’s wealthy elite and once served as Sheriff of Mumbai. Kai also interviewed his great grandmother, Neamut Asgarally, the 102-year-old mother of designer Salim Asgarally, who recalled surviving the 1944 Bombay Dock Explosion, which destroyed her home and forced the family to relocate to Santacruz

Kai’s maternal grandfather, Ashok Shahani, asked why his side of the family—whose history includes migration from Pakistan after Partition—was not featured. Kai revealed plans for a second film focusing on this lineage.

His maternal grandmother, Hasina Shahani, contributed by gathering historic photographs from relatives across India, though she lamented that many priceless early 1900s images had been given to film studios.

A Young Historian’s Vision
Kai’s passion for history and research was evident from a young age. The lockdown period gave him the space to create a work of depth and emotional resonance, using archival storytelling techniques more often seen in professional productions.
When praised for his skills, Kai shared that he intends to study history at college, signalling that Roots Across Continents is just the beginning.

Post-Screening Dialogue & Adda
The 60-minute screening concluded with a panel discussion moderated by WIFF Mumbai Festival Director Deepa Gahlot, followed by an engaging audience Q&A. The conversation extended into WIFF’s signature adda at Sathe’s – the all-day diner, where attendees continued discussions with Kai over lunch.

In a surprise announcement, WIFF Mumbai offered documentary filmmakers attending the screening a 100% waiver on entry fees for WIFF Mumbai 2025 (October 2–6). Waiver codes were distributed at the venue.

The event celebrated intergenerational storytelling, historical preservation, and youthful ambition, highlighting WIFF Mumbai’s mission to spotlight fresh, diverse voices in independent cinema.