Hindi
FTII student one of few selected for Russian Winter Project
MUMBAI: Sandhya Daisy Sundaram, a final year student from the field of direction in the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), has been selected to participate in Cinetrain, The Russian Winter Project to be held in Russia in January next year.
During the project, selected filmmakers from around the world travel across Russia and make documentaries on given topics. A total number of seven documentaries will be made during the project, while Sandhya will be directing the film on Russian Women.
Teams have to shoot and edit short documentary novels on a given theme. The result of the project is a full-length documentary composed of several novels different in form and approach.
The idea behind the Russian Winter Project is to explore the Russian north during winter time, taking a fresh look at the stereotypes about Russia. The project is now in development and will take place in January 2013, with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
Launched in 2008, the idea of Cinetrain has been to bring a unique working method, invented by Russian documentary filmmakers in the 1930s.
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.
