Hindi
Bal Gandharwa to premiere at Cannes fest
MUMBAI: Marathi film Bal Gandharva will have its world premiere at this year‘s Cannes International Film Festival.
The film, based on the life and times of one of the greatest singers and actor of Marathi theatre Narayan Shripad Rajhans, better known as Bal Gandharva, has been produced by art director Nitin Desai.
Bal Gandharva was not just an actor and singer but a showman with a divine voice who dedicated his life to his art. He was a famous for his roles of female characters in Marathi plays. Women would not act on stage in those days.
The songs rendered by him are, to date, considered as classics and his singing style is greatly appreciated by Marathi critics and audiences.
He acted in plays written by Annasaheb Kirloskar, Govind Ballal Deval, Shripad Krishna Kolhatkar, Kakasaheb Khadilkar, Ram Ganesh Gadkari and Vasant Shantaram Desai.
Apart from Cannes, the film is likely to be screened at the Venice, Berlin and Toronto festivals while in India the film will release in Marathi with subtitles in English.
Bal Gandharva will release in India on 6 May.
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.
