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School Cinema International Film Festival opens entries for landmark 10th edition
Children’s film festival marks 15 years of impact with global call for submissions
MUMBAI: Lights, camera, education. The next edition of the School Cinema International Film Festival 2026 is set to roll from 14 to 30 November 2026, with organisers opening submissions to filmmakers from India and around the world for what has grown into one of the world’s largest children’s film festival movements.
Hosted by schools across India, SCIFF’s 10th edition arrives as School Cinema completes 15 years of using cinema as a tool for life skills, social-emotional learning and cultural understanding. Rather than bringing children to traditional festival venues, SCIFF takes films directly into classrooms, turning schools into screening spaces for young audiences aged between five and 16.
The festival is inviting filmmakers and independent creators to submit live-action, animation and documentary films in both short and feature-length formats. Eligible films must have been completed after 1 January 2022, while dialogue-driven entries must include English subtitles.
Over the years, SCIFF has evolved into a significant platform connecting filmmakers with young viewers across the country. According to organisers, School Cinema currently reaches more than 670,000 students through 905 schools spread across 350 cities and 28 states, making it one of India’s most extensive film-based educational initiatives.
Speaking about the announcement, LXL Ideas founder and chief learner, festival director SCIFF, Syed Sultan Ahmed, said films have the power to shape young minds in profound ways.
“Films are among the most powerful teachers we have ever known. A single story, told well, can shift a child’s perspective, build their empathy, and inspire them to dream bigger,” said LXL Ideas founder and chief learner, festival director SCIFF, Syed Sultan Ahmed.
He added that SCIFF was created to ensure children, regardless of their background or school resources, could access meaningful stories from around the world while giving filmmakers an opportunity to contribute to the development of future generations.
The festival’s programming will feature a curated mix of live-action, animated and documentary works that explore diverse themes, cultures and experiences. Selected films will be screened through SCIFF’s school-first model, allowing students to engage with global cinema in familiar learning environments.
Submissions will remain open until 15 August 2026 through FilmFreeway, with organisers seeking stories that can educate, inspire and encourage young audiences to view the world through different perspectives.
SCIFF 2026 will also honour excellence in filmmaking through awards across six categories, including Best Live Action, Best Animation and Best Documentary in both feature and short-film formats.
The festival’s footprint has expanded significantly over the years. Previous editions have reached more than five million children across 41,000 government and private schools nationwide. The 2025 edition also received support from internationally recognised events including the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, AniMela Festival, Giffoni Film Festival and ZERO PLUS International Film Festival.
As SCIFF prepares for its milestone 10th edition, the festival is betting that a good story can do more than entertain. It can educate, inspire and perhaps even help shape the next generation, one classroom screening at a time.
