Organised by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), the festival has received a record 1,459 entries from across the world this year, reflecting its growing international stature and appeal. Festival organisers described the upcoming edition as a vibrant convergence of creativity, culture, innovation, and cinematic excellence.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Prakash Magdum, Managing Director of NFDC, said MIFF 2026 has witnessed an overwhelming response across both competition and non-competition categories.
“This year we have received a record number of entries with films from various parts of the world. Apart from screenings, the festival will host masterclasses where experts from different fields will share their knowledge. We will also have an open forum where current issues, challenges, and opportunities facing the documentary sector will be discussed,” Magdum said.
The competition segment will feature 144 films, including 52 international and 92 national entries, representing filmmakers from 13 countries. The non-competition section will present 202 films, comprising 106 international titles and 96 national films from 46 participating countries. Together, the screenings will offer more than 83 hours of cinematic content.
A special highlight of the festival will be a centenary tribute to renowned filmmaker David Attenborough, during which two of his films will be screened. Organisers are yet to announce details of the selected titles.
The mid-festival programme on June 18 will feature a diverse selection of international works, including the animated film “Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe!” directed by Andrea Szelesova from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the short fiction film “Hyena” directed by Altay Ulan Yang from the United States, and the documentary “I Love You, I Leave You” directed by Moris Freiburghaus from Switzerland.
In a significant expansion of its programming, MIFF 2026 has introduced two new curated sections titled “Marathi Films” and “Echoes from Northeast.” The sections aim to spotlight regional cinematic voices and celebrate India’s cultural diversity through storytelling from different parts of the country.
For the first time in its history, the festival will host an artificial intelligence cinema hackathon titled “Mumbai Through a Thousand Eyes,” a 48-hour global filmmaking challenge focused on exploring artificial intelligence-driven storytelling. The event will also feature 10 masterclasses and multiple panel discussions involving distinguished filmmakers and industry experts.
The festival will present 18 awards across international and national competition categories, carrying total prize money of ₹45 lakh along with trophies and certificates.
One of the major attractions of the opening ceremony on June 15 will be the presentation of the prestigious V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award. The honour coincides with the 125th birth anniversary year of the legendary filmmaker, adding special significance to the occasion.
In addition to the NFDC complex, festival screenings will be conducted at Ravindra Natya Mandir in Dadar, SVKM’s Usha Pravin Gandhi College of Arts, Science and Commerce in Ville Parle, and St Paul’s Institute of Communication Education in Bandra.
With record participation, expanded programming, global representation, and the introduction of artificial intelligence-driven initiatives, MIFF 2026 is poised to reinforce its position as one of the most significant platforms for documentary, animation, and short fiction cinema, bringing together filmmakers, industry leaders, and audiences from across the world.
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