National Geographic to spotlight climate and conservation at MIFF 2026

MUMBAI: Lights, camera, conservation and a reminder that some of the biggest stories on Earth are happening off the beaten track. National Geographic is bringing two powerful stories of the planet and its people to the spotlight at the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2026, blending contemporary climate storytelling with a tribute to one of the most influential voices in natural history.

Leading the line-up is the India premiere of Time and Water, the latest documentary from Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Sara Dosa, which has been selected as the opening documentary film of MIFF 2026. The screening gives Indian audiences an early look at a film that explores the climate crisis through an ambitious mix of science, history, mythology and personal storytelling.

Rather than approaching climate change through statistics alone, Time and Water reflects on humanity’s relationship with a planet shaped by ecological and geological forces stretching across centuries. The film examines how memory, family histories and cultural narratives intertwine with the natural world, bringing a deeply human lens to one of the defining challenges of our time.

The selection is a significant honour at MIFF, one of Asia’s oldest documentary film festivals, which has spent more than three decades championing non-fiction storytelling that sparks dialogue and reflection.

National Geographic’s presence at the festival will also mark a milestone of another kind, the centenary of legendary broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough.

Commenting on National Geographic’s presence at MIFF 2026, 
JioStar head of hindi and english entertainment business (streaming, TV & studios)Alok Jain said, “At a time when the impact of climate change is being felt more visibly than ever, documentaries have the power to cut through noise and create genuine understanding. MIFF has long been a celebrated platform for documentary storytelling, and having Time and Water open this year’s festival makes the occasion particularly special. Alongside it, we are proud to present Secrets of Wild India: Desert Lions in tribute to Sir David Attenborough’s remarkable legacy. National Geographic has always stood for storytelling that informs, inspires and sparks meaningful conversations, and we are delighted to bring these stories to audiences at MIFF 2026.”

To celebrate the occasion, the festival will host special screenings of David Attenborough’s Secrets of Wild India: Desert Lions, a documentary that shines a spotlight on the rare Asiatic lions of India’s arid landscapes. Narrated by Attenborough himself, the film offers a striking look at one of the country’s most iconic species and the conservation efforts helping secure its future.

For more than 70 years, Attenborough has transformed the way audiences engage with the natural world, turning wildlife filmmaking into a global cultural phenomenon and inspiring generations of viewers, scientists and conservationists.

Together, the two screenings showcase the breadth of National Geographic’s storytelling approach. One looks forward, exploring how climate change is reshaping humanity’s future, while the other celebrates a storyteller whose work has spent decades revealing the wonders of the natural world.

At a time when environmental issues are becoming increasingly impossible to ignore, MIFF 2026 is set to offer audiences more than just compelling cinema. It will provide a front-row seat to stories that challenge, inspire and remind viewers that the fate of the planet is ultimately a story about people as much as nature.

From melting ice to desert lions, the message running through both films is clear, some stories entertain, but the most enduring ones leave us seeing the world differently.