MIFF 2026 to host filmmaking workshops with top industry creators and experts

MUMBAI: Lights, camera, masterclass. Mumbai International Film Festival 2026 is rolling out a five-day workshop series that promises to bring aspiring filmmakers face-to-face with some of the biggest creative minds in Indian cinema and content creation.

Scheduled from June 16 to June 20, the sessions will run daily between 4:15 pm and 5:45 pm and are expected to draw film students, young creators and cinema enthusiasts looking for practical insights into the craft of storytelling.

Organised by the National Film Development Corporation under the aegis of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, MIFF remains one of India’s leading festivals dedicated to documentary and short films.

The workshop series opens on June 16 with screenwriter Biplab Goswami, best known for writing Laapataa Ladies. His session will focus on screenwriting, storytelling techniques and the process of building memorable characters for the screen.

The following two days will spotlight accomplished women professionals from departments traditionally viewed as male dominated within the film industry.

On June 17, Cannes-winning cinematographer Modhura Palit will conduct a workshop on cinematography and visual storytelling, offering participants a closer look at the language of images and camera craft.

Veteran editor Deepa Bhatia will take over on June 18 with a session dedicated to film editing, exploring how rhythm, structure and pacing shape cinematic storytelling behind the scenes.

The June 19 workshop will feature filmmaker Sanjeev Sivan, who has directed more than 75 documentary films during his career. His session is expected to focus on practical filmmaking experiences and lessons drawn from years of working across nonfiction cinema.

The series concludes on June 20 with a workshop on artificial intelligence in content creation led by Anand Pandey. Known for projects such as Krishna Aur Kans, Shaktimaan, Sammy and Raj and Boot Bandhu, Pandey will discuss how AI is beginning to reshape animation, storytelling and digital content production.

Speaking about the initiative, National Film Development Corporation managing director Prakash Magdum said the workshops are designed to make learning more accessible and hands-on for aspiring creators.

“This workshop series at MIFF is designed to give aspiring filmmakers and creators an opportunity to learn directly from experts who have shaped storytelling in our country,” he said, adding that the sessions are intended to feel open, inclusive and practical.

The workshop programme is expected to become one of the major attractions at this year’s festival, bringing together professionals from writing, cinematography, editing, documentary filmmaking and AI-driven content creation under one roof.

As storytelling tools continue to evolve from script pages to smart algorithms, MIFF 2026 appears ready to remind creators that while technology may change the medium, strong stories still remain at the heart of cinema.