Hindi
Festival of patriotic films commences with Naidu stressing of filmmakers of that time
NEW DELHI: A film festival on patriotic films opened here today with Information ad Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiaih Naidu stressing that Indian Cinema not only played a vital role during the freedom movement but facilitated in spreading the message regarding the great deeds and valour of eminent leaders and personalities related to freedom movement.
He said these films had a social message and had a profound impact on the minds and social behavior of people.
The opening of the week long “Independence Day Film Festival” at Siri Fort Auditorium was also attended by Minister of State Rajyavardhan Rathore and I and B Secretary Ajay Mittal, apart from noted film personalities Chitraarth and A K Bir.
The Minister said the 70th year of Independence offered an opportunity to take the country from Swaraj to Suraaj under the leadership of Prime Minister Naendra Modi. This would enable the country to fight the long standing ills plaguing the society and take the nation to newer heights.
He added that every Indian Citizen was equal and there was no room for anybody to discriminate against any other individual. For the nation to achieve faster progress in all fronts, every section of the society irrespective of caste, creed, religion, region and language should be part of the growth story.
All Indians should believe only in oneness of the country and nothing else should be allowed to cause obstacles in India’s march ahead. He urged that civil society and people should strive to foster harmony and build bridges across the communities.
Speaking on the philosophy of the Indian Freedom Struggle, Naidu said that many countries fought for their freedom and became independent but the Indian Freedom Movement was unique in the sense that it showed to the world the power of non-violence and democratic principles. He said that people from different walks of life from different parts of the country contributed to the freedom movement including educationists, lawyers, leaders, farmers, artists and ordinary men & women.
Referring to the rich history of Indian cinema and the context in which the movies were produced, the Minister mentioned that India’s victory in 1965 war had fired the imagination of then young film actor Manoj Kumar in Mumbai which lead to the making of ‘Upkar’ in 1967.
Remembering the unsung heroes who contributed to freedom movement, the Minister said the 1959 Tamil Film “Veerapaandiya Kattabomman” directed by B R Panthulu was the story and valour of Kattabomman – an 18th century local leader from Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, who refused to accept the sovereignty of East India Company.
While remembering the towering personalities of our freedom movement and founding fathers of the Republic of India, the Minister said Sardar Vallabhai Patel played a leading role in integration of the country into a united and independent nation. The film “Sardar” which portrays the life of Sardar Patel would be screened at the Film Festival. He also referred to the sacrifices made by Veer Savarkar during the freedom struggle.
The Minister said the festival provided an opportunity to school children especially from public schools who attended the festival to be inspired by the history of these great leaders and freedom fighters.
The opening Film for the festival was ‘Gandhi’ directed by Sir Richard Attenborough. The festival will continue till 18 August and 20 films are being screened. The festival has been organized by the Directorate of Film Festivals in collaboration with the Defence Ministry.
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.
