Hindi
IIFA Weekend & Awards: Abu Dhabi to host the 23rd edition of the event in Feb 2023
Mumbai: The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend And Awards, which brings together the best of the Indian film industry, will return to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, in February 2023. IIFA 2023 will be held in collaboration with the department of culture and tourism in Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Miral, which creates immersive destinations and experiences.
The 22nd edition of IIFA this year at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, was hosted by Salman Khan, Riteish Deshmukh and Maniesh Paul. It had performances by talent from the Indian film fraternity. The three-day awards weekend was attended by more than 350 media from 17 countries across the globe, and more than 20,000 people thronged the arena.
The 23rd edition of IIFA will again be hosted at the world-class Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi—the Middle East’s largest state-of-the-art indoor entertainment venue in February 2023. The upcoming edition will see Salman Khan, Varun Dhawan, Karan Johar, Kriti Sanon, and many more in attendance.
For many decades, India and Abu Dhabi have had strong cultural and commercial ties. IIFA Weekend & Awards will be a celebration of togetherness and positivity, returning to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi and enhancing, strengthening, and building even stronger bonds. IIFA 2023 will be a grand celebration of the best talent in Indian cinema, bringing together global dignitaries, international media, fans, and film enthusiasts worldwide. The aim is to also present a greater opportunity for long-term impact in tourism, trade, and the film production business for the destination.
IIFA VP Noreen Khan said, “IIFA this year was an amazing experience thanks to the wonderful partners Miral and DCT. Coming back after two years, we really worked hard to deliver the very best of live entertainment again. The best part was that the entire weekend delivered a positive experience for everyone who witnessed or experienced the event in any way. We have been inundated with unprecedented appreciation and comments from everyone who truly has had a wonderful time this year in Abu Dhabi, and so we are pleased and excited to bring it all back again, but with much more magic to come next year.”
DCT Abu Dhabi DG for Tourism HE Saleh Mohamed Al-Geziry said, “We are honoured to once more welcome the IIFA Weekend and Awards to the Etihad Arena. With the eyes of the world’s film industry upon us, we have an amazing opportunity to share with the world Abu Dhabi’s exciting nightlife, inspiring cultural experiences, and restorative escapes. The awards in February can only enhance our reputation as a global centre for top-tier leisure, entertainment, and business events.
Miral executive director of group communications and destination marketing Taghrid Al Saeed said, “We were thrilled to see the immediate impact that IIFA presented to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi when we hosted the event last June, which created great engagement around the world. We are excited to be back hosting again this year and to be the first destination to consecutively hold the IIFA Weekend and Awards. We are proud of this partnership, which is already delivering valuable business and tourism opportunities from India to the island. The return of this great event is another testament to Yas Island’s position as a global entertainment and leisure destination as well as an international events hub.”
People can now buy tickets to the awards ceremony spanning over three days at https://www.etihadarena.ae/en/ from 30 September 2022. The price range begins at 100 AED and goes up to 1,500 AED. People can now get an opportunity to buy tickets to the celebration of Indian Cinema at https://www.etihadarena.ae/en/box-office or head to www.yas island.ae where fans can add all that they need for their visit to Yas Island as a travel package.
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.
