Hindi
Azaan climax to be shot in Chechnya
MUMBAI: The climax of Alchemia Films’upcoming film Azaan will be shot in Chechnya.
For almost the last nine years from when Chechnya became an ecological disaster zone with oil and chemical leaking into the ground and radioactive material left lying about, no film has been shot in the country. The makers, including director Prashant Chadda, thought it apt to shoot the climax there because the film is about biological warfare.
Azaan is the story of an informant who has to go undercover beyond enemy lines and help find enough information to be able to save his brother and the nation from destruction through biological warfare.
Since the story has international conspiracy at its core, the film explores different countries. It was shot in Poland, the Czech Republic, Morocco, Germany, Thailand and India.
Azaan stars Sachin Joshi, CEO of the JMJ Group, Arya Babbar, Dilip Tahil, Sachin Khedekar and Aly Khan. The film also has international model and Playboy cover girl Candice Boucher.
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.
