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Jagran Film Festival reveals star-studded jury for features and shorts
Mumbai: The 11 editions of the Jagran Film Festival (JFF), recognised as the world’s largest travelling film festival, have revealed its panel of judges for the feature film and short film segments. In a distinctive approach, the festival will have distinct jury members for each category – Feature Films and Short Films. With its 11 seasons, the festival has enlisted highly experienced figures from the industry as jury members. The distinguished jury for this year comprises celebrated Indian directors, editors, screenwriters, and film critics.
The ‘Best Feature Film Award category’ will have its feature films evaluated by a panel consisting of Rahul Rawail, known for directing and editing Indian classics like Love Story, Betaab, Arjun, Dacait, Anjaam, Arjun Pandit, and the recent release Jo Bole So Nihaal. Additionally, Girish Kasaravalli, a well-established Kannada film director with a remarkable tally of fourteen national awards, and Juhi Chaturvedi, the accomplished screenwriter behind acclaimed Bollywood hits such as Vicky Donor, Piku, October, and Gulabo Sitabo, will be part of the panel.
The assessment of short films will be undertaken by a distinguished panel of jurors, including A. Sreekar Prasad, a renowned film editor from the Telugu and Tamil film industry, with a remarkable nine national film awards to his credit. Joining him is Haobam Paban Kumar, an accomplished filmmaker honoured with the National Film Award for Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation, and Baradwaj Rangan, a respected film critic and editor-in-chief of Galatta Plus, who formerly served as an editor at film companion (South). Following their review of the films, the jurors will proceed to select the recipient of the Best Short Film award category.
Both categories are dedicated to honouring and celebrating the outstanding achievements of directors and filmmakers who bring remarkable narratives to life through the medium of feature and short films. It’s a platform designed to recognize the exceptional storytelling and creative prowess that these artists exhibit within their respective formats, highlighting their significant contributions to the world of cinema.
Jagran Prakashan Sr VP, strategy, brand and business development Basant Rathore, said, we are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to our esteemed jury, entrusted with the challenging task of choosing the best amongst equals. Anticipating some exciting times as the festival marches ahead in its journey.
Jagran Film Festival has gained immense popularity and each year it attempts to present a treat for cinema lovers by showing unique and popular movies during the show. Some prominent sections of the festival are In conversation, World Panorama, Homage, Country Focus, Asia Premiere, World Premiere, and the Retrospective of Films.
The world’s largest travelling film festival is all set to enrapture audiences with an exceptional array of world-class films from all around the globe. The Jagran Film Festival started in Delhi on 3 August and has travelled through Kanpur, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Bareilly and will travel to, Dehradun, Hisar, Gurgaon, Ludhiana, Patna, Darbhanga, Ranchi, Raipur, Indore, and Siliguri. For registration log on to: www.jff.co.in. The award ceremony will happen in Mumbai on 15 October 2023.
iWorld
Prime Video bets big on India with global originals, films and franchise expansion
Execs highlight scale, travelability and new IP bets as India anchors global strategy
MUMBAI: At Prime Video Presents 2026, the message was clear and confident. India is not just part of the plan, it is central to it.
In a lively fireside chat hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar, Kelly Day, vice president of prime video and amazon mgm studios international, Nicole Clemens, vice president of international originals, and Gaurav Gandhi, vice president for Apac and Anz, laid out an ambitious roadmap. Think bigger stories, wider reach and a sharper focus on building franchises that travel.
Kelly Day, a regular visitor to India, set the tone early. Calling the country “one of the most important markets globally”, she pointed to the sheer scale and diversity of audiences as a driving force behind Prime Video’s growth. Indian Originals, she said, are not just local hits but global engines powering subscriptions and engagement.
That global appeal is already visible. According to Clemens, around 25 percent of viewership for Indian content now comes from outside the country. Shows rooted deeply in local culture are finding fans worldwide, proving that specificity, when paired with universal themes, travels well. From gritty dramas to sharp thrillers, Indian storytelling is increasingly crossing borders with ease.
Clemens, who joined recently to lead international originals, was particularly upbeat about India’s creative range. She highlighted a growing slate of over 100 shows in development and production, with more than 60 percent returning for multiple seasons. For her, the formula is simple. Authentic stories, told well, resonate everywhere.
Adding to the buzz, she teased new and returning titles, alongside a fresh superhero universe, the Kalyug Warriors. It signals a push into new genres while doubling down on familiar fan favourites.
If content is king, distribution is the clever courtier. Day outlined Prime Video’s layered business model in India, which blends subscription, rentals, add on channels and ad supported viewing through Amazon MX Player. The idea is straightforward. Give viewers choice, whether they want premium, free or pay per view.
India, she noted, has also become a testing ground for innovation. Tiered pricing, mobile only plans and language diversity have all been sharpened here before being exported to other markets. In many ways, the India playbook is now influencing global strategy.
For Gaurav Gandhi, the next chapter is about scale with intent. He outlined four priorities. Making Prime Video more accessible, pushing Indian content globally, building stronger franchises and supercharging the films business.
On films, the platform is moving beyond licensing into co productions and now theatrical releases in partnership with amazon mgm studios. These films will eventually stream on Prime Video, creating a full circle from cinema halls to living rooms across 240 countries.
Franchise building remains another key pillar. With hits like The Family Man, Mirzapur and Panchayat already enjoying multi season success, the focus is now on creating the next wave of enduring IP. Newer titles are already lining up for second seasons, signalling a steady pipeline.
What stood out through the conversation was a shared belief. Streaming in India is still in its early innings, and the runway is long. With a mix of local flavour and global ambition, Prime Video is betting that stories from India will not just stay at home, but travel far and wide.
Or as the executives seemed to suggest, the world is watching and India has plenty more to show.
