Hindi
London Film festival to honour films from the subcontinent
MUMBAI: The annual London Asian Film Festival that opened last Friday at the British Film Institute will honour a range of films from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh that have made waves on the international film festival circuit.
Leading stars of Bollywood and Independent Cinema who are likely to attend the ten- day festival are Manisha Koirala, Sanjay Suri, Ajay Naidu, Heather Burns and Karsh Kale among others.
The festival will screen a few cutting edge independent films like Ajay Naidu’s Ashes, Onir‘s I Am and Sanjay Gupta’s Pankh.
The highlights of this year’s festival include a ‘Costume Design’ master class at BAFTA with Academy Award winner and Indian cinema’s well-known costume designer Bhanu Athaiya, screening of Peepli Live and talk by its director Anusha Rizvi, Hollywood actor Heather Burns screening her film Ashes and a short film competition showcasing the remarkable work of aspiring filmmakers.
The festival will stay till 27 March.
Hindi
MIFF 2026 to return to Mumbai; film entries open till April 12
19th edition to host WAVES Doc Bazaar, spotlighting global documentary talent
MUMBAI: The 19th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival 2026 is set to take place from June 15 to 21 at the NFDC Complex, with film submissions currently open and the deadline fast approaching on April 12.
Organised by the National Film Development Corporation under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the biennial festival remains one of South Asia’s most prominent platforms for documentary, short fiction and animation films.
Filmmakers, producers and content creators from across the globe have been invited to submit entries via the Film Freeway platform for the Competition Section. Offline submissions will not be accepted, reinforcing a fully digital entry process.
MIFF 2026 continues to sweeten the deal with a robust awards pool of Rs 55 lakh. The coveted Golden Conch for Best Documentary carries a top prize of Rs 10 lakh, alongside multiple awards across categories, making it one of the most lucrative non-feature film festivals in the region.
A key highlight this year will be the second edition of the WAVES Doc Bazaar, scheduled from June 16 to 18 alongside the festival. Designed as a hub for collaboration, the Doc Bazaar will feature a co-production market, viewing rooms and a work-in-progress lab, bringing together global buyers, sellers and creators under one roof.
Since its inception in 1990, MIFF has built a reputation as a serious showcase for non-feature cinema, drawing participation from filmmakers worldwide. The previous edition saw over 350 films from more than 30 countries, underlining its growing international footprint.
With submissions closing soon and preparations underway, MIFF 2026 is shaping up to be a vibrant meeting point for storytelling, collaboration and cinematic craft, offering filmmakers both a stage and a springboard.
