The Film Festival Cinefan was launched in Delhi in 1999 by Aruna Vasudev and acquired by Osian's Connoisseurs of Art in 2004 as part of Neville Tuli's vision of building an integrated Film House for Osian's. The Festival thus changed its title to Osian's-Cinefan. Several new features were introduced in the 9th edition. The competition which was limited to Asian Films was broadened to include films by Arab directors. A competition for First Features was also introduced. A Focus on Japan comprised films, an exhibition and a lecture by Life time Achievement Awardee Tadao Sato, and a Tribute to Kenji Mizoguchi. A unique Benshi performance accompanying the screening of Mizoguchi's silent film 'The Water Magicians' was one of the major attractions of the festival. A section called 'Silhouettes' featured women-centric films from different countries.The 150th anniversary of India's First War of Independence was commemorated in a special section titled 'Hymns to Freedom' that screened films about struggles for freedom in former Asian and Arab colonies.