The 19th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival is set to open on June 15 at the National Film Development Corporation complex in Mumbai, bringing together 346 films from 46 countries for a week-long celebration of documentary, short fiction, and animation filmmaking. The festival, organised by the NFDC under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, received an overwhelming 1,459 entries from filmmakers worldwide before selecting its final lineup for screenings that will run through June 21.
MIFF 2026 stands as South Asia’s oldest and largest festival dedicated to non-feature cinema, and this year’s edition promises to be its most ambitious yet. The competition section features 144 films, including 52 international entries and 92 national works representing filmmakers from 13 countries. The non-competition section will present an additional 202 films, including 106 international titles and 96 national productions, collectively offering more than 83 hours of screenings across four Mumbai venues.
The festival will take place at multiple locations, including the NFDC Complex, Ravindra Natya Mandir in Dadar, SVKM’s Usha Pravin Gandhi College in Vile Parle, and St Paul’s Institute of Communication Education in Bandra. This expansion across the city reflects the growing appetite for independent and non-feature filmmaking in India, a trend also visible in the rising demand for regional cinema on streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and JioHotstar.
A centenary tribute to Sir David Attenborough will be among the marquee events, with two of the legendary naturalist’s films screened as part of a special programme. The tribute acknowledges Attenborough’s unparalleled contribution to documentary filmmaking and environmental storytelling, which has inspired generations of filmmakers across the globe. According to a report by ThePrint, the centenary screening is expected to draw significant attention from both film enthusiasts and environmental advocates.
The festival will also present the prestigious V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award, coinciding with the 125th birth anniversary of the pioneering Indian filmmaker. Shantaram, who founded Prabhat Film Company and directed landmark films across multiple decades, remains one of Indian cinema’s most influential figures. The award carries special significance this year as the industry reflects on his lasting impact on both commercial and documentary filmmaking in India.
For the first time in its history, MIFF will host an AI Cinema Hackathon titled Mumbai Through a Thousand Eyes, a 48-hour global filmmaking challenge that explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and cinematic storytelling. The hackathon reflects a broader industry shift toward embracing new technologies, even as traditional storytelling continues to thrive on Indian OTT platforms with shows like Gullak reaching their fifth season on SonyLIV.
The second edition of the WAVES Doc Bazaar, scheduled from June 16 to 18, will feature multiple verticals including a co-production market, viewing room, and work-in-progress lab. The bazaar is designed to connect documentary filmmakers with producers, distributors, and funding bodies, creating a marketplace for non-feature content that has historically struggled to find commercial footing in India.
Two new curated sections have been introduced this year. The Marathi Films section highlights the growing stature of Maharashtra’s documentary filmmaking tradition, while Echoes from Northeast brings visibility to filmmakers from India’s northeastern states, a region that has produced several critically acclaimed independent films in recent years. This curatorial expansion mirrors the kind of regional spotlight that festivals and platforms have increasingly embraced, as seen in the celebration of pioneering regional filmmakers like Singeetham Srinivasa Rao.
MIFF 2026 will hold 10 masterclasses led by respected film practitioners covering filmmaking, storytelling, acting, screenwriting, and cinematography. The festival will present 18 awards across international and national competition categories, with a total prize fund of Rs 45 lakh along with trophies and certificates. Full details of the programme, delegate registration, and screening schedules are available on the official MIFF website.
The mid-festival lineup on June 18 will feature screenings of Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe! in the animation category, Hyena in short fiction, and I Love You, I Leave You in the documentary section. These selections underscore the festival’s commitment to showcasing diverse formats and voices from across the global filmmaking community.
