RUC Sports Film Festival to debut in Chennai, launching the Rise Up Championship Foundation
Chennai will witness a unique celebration of sports and cinema this August as the RUC Sports Film Festival premieres at AGS Cinemas, T Nagar, on september 3 and 4 th For two full days, from 9 AM to 6 PM, audiences will experience the thrill of sports on the big screen through a handpicked selection of blockbuster and critically acclaimed films in English, Hindi and Tamil.
The festival promises something for everyone — from timeless classics that defined an era to recent hits that capture the new face of sport. Every screening will spotlight the power of sport to inspire, unite, and tell compelling stories that go beyond the playing field. Athletes, fans, filmmakers and collaborators will gather under one roof to celebrate their passion for the game. A red-carpet evening will bring together leading figures from entertainment, business, and sport, setting the perfect backdrop for the event.
“An event like the RUC Sports Film Festival is rare because it does more than entertain. it creates a shared cultural space where sport and cinema meet as equals,” said sports curator, actor and producer Veera, who is a part of the RUC leadership. “We’ve curated films that capture everything from the grit of competition to the personal journeys behind the victories, giving audiences a reason to see sport as both an art form and a unifying force. For athletes and creators, it’s a chance to be part of a dialogue that goes beyond the field or the screen. And for Chennai, it’s an opportunity to celebrate the city’s love for both sport and storytelling in a completely new way.”
The RUC Sports Film Festival will mark the official launch of the Rise Up Championship (RUC) Foundation, a first-of-its-kind sports platform designed to blend competitive sport with culture, entertainment and lifestyle. Founded by a team whose backgrounds span sports, cinema, and business, RUC was born from a shared vision to create something India truly deserves.
The Foundation’s mission is clear. It seeks to promote emerging and professional sports, discover and nurture athlete talent, and build a dynamic ecosystem where sport is celebrated as a way of life. RUC’s approach is to integrate sport into every aspect of cultural life, whether through compelling storytelling, high-impact events, educational initiatives, or collaborations with brands. The goal is not just to host tournaments but to create opportunities, open doors for new talent, and connect athletes with the support systems they need to rise.
Speaking about the launch of the Foundation, RUC Founder and serial entrepreneur Selvakumar Baalu said, “The Rise Up Championship Foundation was created to push the boundaries of how we experience sport. We want to build something that not only supports professional athletes but also shines a light on developing sports and the incredible untapped talent around us. By combining the worlds of sport, entertainment and culture, we’re giving athletes, creators, and brands a space to connect, collaborate, and grow together. This is about creating a lasting ecosystem, one where sport is not just played, but lived and celebrated every day.”
The launch of the Foundation will be followed by another landmark event — RUC Pickleball By The Bay (#PBTB2025), to be held in Chennai on September 26, 27, and 28, 2025. In partnership with the Indian Pickleball Association, this beachside spectacle will be a PWR 1000 tournament, thus introducing India to pickleball on a scale it has never seen before. More than just a tournament, the event will blend high-energy sport with the atmosphere of a music festival, bringing over 25,000 spectators to the city’s coastline.
The tournament will feature five categories, men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles, each with 32 entries. Matches will be streamed live and supported by strong digital coverage and influencer partnerships, ensuring that India’s first such international-scale pickleball event reaches audiences far beyond the beach.
