Movies
Telugu horror franchise ‘Mantra 2’ to release on 3 July
MUMBAI: Ever since the success of Rajinikanth’s Robot and Boss in the north, the market for south cinema is fast growing every year. After successfully releasing Tamil horror – thriller Masss all across north India, Impossible Films has acquired the rights of Mantra 2, part of the hit horror franchise Mantra (2007) for north India territory. Mantra 2 will be released on 3 July, 2015 across north India.
Directed by Venkat Prabhu, Masss stars Tamil super star Suriya alongside Nayantara in the lead. The movie grossed Rs 17.30 crore in its opening weekend. Masss was also in the horror thriller category with a few comic elements, while Mantra 2 is a far more edge of the seat horror. The story of the movie revolves around a haunted farmhouse Mantra Nilayam, which is owned by Mantra (Charmi). The director of Mantra 2 has said that it is not a sequel to its predecessor but is in the same genre as the first one.
Masss grossed $121,000 at the US box office. Helmed by ace director S. V. Suresh and staring Charmy Kaur, the movie is expected to garner even better results at the box office than its prequel Mantra, which was a huge hit.
Impossible Films managing director Murlidhar Tilwani said, “Indian audiences are now hungry for good cinema. Along with international projects, there has been a great increase in demand for south origin cinema, especially Tamil. We are confident the movie will do well in the north as it has already in south.”
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.
