by Satinder Mohan
An International Film Festival of India (IFFI) serves as a vital platform where the art of storytelling intersects with advancements in film technology – from digital filmmaking techniques and virtual reality to AI driven post production tools and immerse audiovisual experiences. These convergence not only broadens creative possibilities but also redefines how filmmakers narrate culturally rich stories for global audiences.
As Asia’s premier film festival, recognised by International Federation of Film Producers’ Association (FIAPF), IFFI continues to celebrate by embracing the symbiotic relationship between artistic vision and the technological innovation that shapes contemporary cinema.
The International Film Festivals of India have played a very important role in promotion of Indian Cinema over the years. The first IFFI was held in 1952 in Mumbai.The second international film festival was held in 1961 in Delhi. The third International Film Festival was recognised by the International Federation of Film Producers Association (FIAPF). This was first competitive International film Festival of India. This is first time the words, “OF INDIA” were added in the name of International Film Festival of India “. The next IFFI was held in 1969. The 5th IFFI was held at Vigyan Bhawan in 1975.Since then all the IFFISs Competitive) IFFIS were held in Delhi in Vigyan Bhawan and all the Filmotsavs (Non Competitive) were held outside Delhi every year.
Apart from International Film festivals of India, organised by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, New Delhi, and now by NFDC, under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the International film festivals are also being organised by various state Governments so as to reach the international cinema to the grassroot levels of the country for promotion of Indian Cinema. Starting from Kolkata International Film festival, the international film Festivals have been held at Bangalore, Kerala, Chennai, Pune, Dharamsala, Chennai, Luknow, Jaipur, Trichur and Siliguri.
Delhi has been starving for International film festivals for the last 23 years. The last IFFI held in Delhi was the 34th IFFI which was held at Sirifort New Delhi in 2003. The 35 IFFI was held at Goa and since then IFFI has never returned to Delhi.
For the first time this year, an International Film festival was organised by the Delhi Government. It was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from 25th to 31st March 2026. The name of the first International Film festival in Delhi was “IFFD26”. The festival had very good Indian as well as foreign films. An effort was made to design and conduct” IFFD26” on the lines of International Film Festival of India , Goa. The festival had masterclasses also. These were conducted by eminent filmmakers and film personalities, like, Manoj Bajpayee, Boman Irani, Piyush Mishra, K K Centhil Kumar, Bhumi Pednekar, Anupam Kher, Divya Dutta, Guneet Monga and Rakeysh Omparkash Mehra.
Incidentally, RakeyshOmprakash Mehra was the Festival Director of the first international film festival held in New Delhi.
The festival opening ceremony was held on 25th March at Bharat Manndapam and the closing ceremony on 30th March at Plenary Hall, of Bharat Mandapam New Delhi. The Closing Ceremony was called “Night of Honours”, which was held at 5pm, when the chief Guest was newly appointed Governor of Delhi, Sardar, Taranjit Singh Sandhu and the guest of honour was Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister of Delhi. This was an excellent ceremony followed by rock music as part of cultural evening. The first International Film Festival organised by Delhi Govt. was the non-Competitive festival. It was very successful festival.
The long gap of 23 years between the last International Film Festival of India held in Delhi in 2003 at Sirifort and the first International Film Festival of Delhi, “IFFD 26” was filled by Jagran Film Festival organised by Jagran Prakashan Ltd. New Delhi.
Jagran Film Festival is a very unique Film Festival because it is travelling form festival. It travels through 16 cities in India so as to reach the international cinema to the grassroot level. This year is the 14th edition of Jagran film festival, which was inaugurated on 20th August 2026 at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre Jan Path New Delhi. The Delhi Chapter was inaugurated by Dr. L. Murugan, Minister of state of Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs on 20th August in the evening.The first segment was the 4-day long festival in Delhi from 20th to 23rd August.
I have been previewing films for Jagran Film Festival since 2017 and this year also, I am the preview committee member. For the benefit of the documentary and short films-makers, the 19th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) was held at Mumbai from 15th to 21st June 2026. This is the biggest documentary film festival of South Asia. Which is held in India once in two years. While the Opening and closing ceremonies were held ai Ravinndra Natya Mandir , Prabha Devi, Mumbai, all the films were screened at NFDC complex (Earlier known as Film Division at Peddar Road Mumbai.
All the Masterclasses and Open Forum Sessions were also held in NFDC Complex. It is for the first time that AI films and CMOT ( Creative Minds of Tomorrow) films were also screened during19th MIFF. This festival celebrated two of the greatest film personalities of in the Global Cinema; the centenary of David of Attenborough and 125th anniversary of V. Shantaram.
It is for the first time that an International Film Festival was also held at Jammu and Kashmir from 7th to 10th September 2026. This is the latest International Film festival held in India so far. It was a very successful International Film festival.
Haryanvi Innovative Film Association (HIFA) also organised its first International film Festival on 19th and 20th September 2026 in collaboration with DLC SUPVA at Rohtak , Haryana.
Looking ahead, the 57th IFFI is going to be held at Goa from 20 to 28th Nov 2026. I am sure this International Film festival will provide excellent opportunity to Indian film-makers and producers to pick up the latest techniques and ideas which will help them in making better films in India. I wish 57th IFFI a great success.
