Curtains Fall on the 19th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF 2026) with a celebration of excellence in Documentary, Short Fiction and Animation films

Curtains Fall on the 19th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF 2026) with a celebration of excellence in Documentary, Short Fiction and Animation films Golden Conch for Best International Documentary Film Award goes to Polish documentary film ‘Silver’ Silver Conch for Best International Competition films given to ‘Under The Snow’ (Short Fiction) and ‘Maya’s Song’

(Animation) Silver Conch for National Competitions bagged by ‘Armstrong from Angaalamman Temple Street’ (Animation), ‘Small Clouds’ (Short-fiction )and ‘Waai’ (Documentary) MIFF has evolved into a Global Movement celebrating creative excellence, “Create in India, Create for the World” drives India’s

creative economy: Maharashtra GovernorJishnu Dev Varma Governor of Maharashtra urges for responsible use of AI and protection of filmmakers’ Intellectual Property, at MIFF Closing Ceremony Mumbai, 21 June 2026 The 19th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF 2026) concluded today amidst an enthusiastic gathering of filmmakers, film enthusiasts, industry professionals, and young creative minds, all united by their passion for cinema, storytelling, artistic pursuits and creativity.

A total of 17 awards recognizing excellence in documentary, animation and short fiction filmmaking were presented during the closing ceremony.

The Golden Conch for Best International Documentary Film Award and a cash prize of ₹ 10 lakh (to be shared equally between director and producer of the film) went to the Polish documentary film Silver. The Minister Plenipotentiary and Director, Polish Institute, Ms. Malgorzata Wejsis-Gołębiak received the top award on behalf of the Ms Natalia Koniarz and producer of the film Mr. Maciej Kubicki.

The Silver Conch for Best International Short Fiction Film and a cash prize of ₹ 5 Lakh went to the Iranian film Under The Snow. Shri Deepankar Prakash, one of the Producer of the film, received the award on behalf of Director of the film Ms. Nafiseh Zare and the other producer Ms.

Kottukathira Prakash.

The Silver Conch for Best International Animation Film and a cash prize of ₹ 5 Lakh (To be shared equally by the director & producer of the film) went to the German animation film Maya’s Song. The award was received by Lead Animator and Studio representative Ms. Sanika Kulkarni, on behalf of the Directors and Producer of the film Ms. Franziska Schönenberger and Mr.

Jayakrishnan Subramanian.The Silver Conch for Best Animation Film under National Competition and Cash Prize of ₹3 Lakh was bagged by Tamil language animation Armstrong from Angaalamman Temple Street.

The Director and Producer Shri Bhuvanesh M. Kumar received the Silver Conch Award and cash prize.

The Silver Conch for Best Indian Short Fiction Film Award and Cash Prize of ₹3 Lakh was bagged by the film Small Clouds. The award for this FTII produced film was received by Vice Chancellor of FTII Shri Dhiraj Singh and director Shri Shubham Sumit.

The Silver Conch for Best Indian Documentary Film Award and cash prize of ₹ 5 lakhs (shared equally between director and producer of the film) went to the documentary Waai. Director Shri Sainath S Uskaikar and Shri Jawahar Sharma on behalf of producer Shri Bharatbala Ganapathy received the award.

The award for the Best Cinematographer under International Competition category went to Shri Krish Makhija for the Indian documentary Turtle Walker.

The award for Best Editing under International Competition went to the short ficion film Ms.

Evgeny Smirnov & Mr. Maksim Smirnov for the film About the Cow from Russia. Director Mr. Anton Simukhin received the award on behalf of the editor-duo.

The award for the Best Sound Designer under International Competition went to Shri Abhay Rumde (Purple Haze Studio) for the film Deva Aaj Pan Vhay.

Best short film Award on "Viksit Bharat/ 150 Years of VandeMataram/ Bharat@2026" was won by The Last Shelter. The awards were recived by Shri Bharat Arora and Shri Rajesh Bhatia.

Pramod Pati Special Jury Award for Most Innovative/Experimental Film went to Taiwanese film The Hoarders, and was received by director Ms. Chuan-Ying Liao.

The Best Sound Design Award, under National Competition category went to Shri Bigyna Dahal for the film Kovarty.

The Best Editing Award, under National Competition category went to Shri Akhil Krishnan for the film MAYDAY. The Director Shri Sarath Ambatt received the award on behalf of editor Shri Akhil Krishnan.

The award for Best Cinematographer under National Competition was bagged by Shri Ranadhir Biswas for the film Small Clouds.

The FIPRESCI International Critics Prize (FIPRESCI Prize) instituted by the International Federation of Film Critics was given to Shri Pradeep Kenchanuru for his film The Hug of Emptiness.

The IDPA Award for the Best Student Film went to Shri Milan Kumar for the film The Old Bull knows, or Once Knew.

The Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari Award for Best Debut Director went to Ms. Pooja Tolani for her film ‘Raaza’.

The Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Jishnu Dev Varma, attended the Closing Ceremony of 19th MIFF as the Chief Guest. The dignitaries present on the occasion also included Principal Director General, Press Information Bureau Shri Dhirendra Ojha; Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Prabhat; noted filmmaker Shri Ashutosh Gowarikar; Festival Director and Managing Director of NFDC, Shri Prakash Magdum; Secretary, Marathi Language and Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra, Shri Kiran Kulkarni; Joint Secretary to the Governor of Maharashtra Shri S. Ramamoorthy.Addressing the closing ceremony of MIFF 2026, Maharashtra Governor Shri Jishnu Dev Varma highlighted the festival’s remarkable journey as one of the world’s most prestigious platforms dedicated to documentary, short fiction, and animation films. He noted that for more than three decades, MIFF has served as a vibrant stage for creative minds, storytellers, and visionaries, evolving from a national event into a global movement celebrating artistic excellence, cultural diversity, and meaningful storytelling. The significant growth witnessed over the last five editions, he said, reflects MIFF’s increasing relevance and international stature.

The Governor also referred to the inaugural World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES), launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in Mumbai on May 1, 2025. Conceived as a global platform for media, entertainment, animation, gaming, digital content, and emerging technologies, the summit brought together creators, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders from over 90 countries under the theme “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries.” He emphasized that WAVES reinforced India’s ambition to become a global hub for the creative economy and digital storytelling while advancing the vision of “Create in India, Create for the World.”Highlighting the importance of the creative or “Orange Economy,” Shri Jishnu Dev Varma described the film industry as one of its strongest pillars. Beyond generating employment and driving innovation, films act as powerful instruments of soft power, enabling nations to communicate their values, traditions, and aspirations to global audiences. He particularly praised documentaries for their ability to capture reality, preserve history, challenge assumptions, and inspire social transformation.

The Maharashtra Governor also underlined the significance of short films and animation. While short films provide a platform for experimentation and emerging talent, animation has evolved into a powerful medium for education, communication, cultural preservation, and creative expression.

Through technology and imagination, animation helps convey complex ideas in engaging and universally accessible ways.

Expressing pride that Mumbai continues to host this important international cultural event, he reaffirmed Maharashtra’s position as a leading centre for cinema, arts, and creativity. He called for greater encouragement of youth, especially from rural and tribal communities, and women filmmakers to share their unique stories. While acknowledging technology as a major enabler, he urged responsible use of Artificial Intelligence and stressed the need to protect filmmakers’ intellectual property. Congratulating all award winners and participants, he emphasized that meaningful storytelling remains a powerful force for dialogue, empathy, and positive social change.In his welcome speech, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Prabhat said, the response from audience across venues this week has reaffirmed the enduring relevance of non feature cinema including documentaries, short fiction and animation, and that is a real measure of a success of the film festival.

The MIFF Report was also ceremonially released by Managing Director, National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) Shri Prakash Magdum. In his speech, Shri Magdum said, most powerful truths are told not on the biggest screens, but on the smallest, most honest frames. Documentaries, short fiction and animation are the forms that don’t look away from the realities of the world, instead they mirror the impact back to the audience. He informed that MIFF 2026 received an overwhelming response with 1,459 film entries from across the world. The Competition Section comprised of 144 films, including 52 international and 92 national entries, representing filmmakers from 13 countries. The non competition section featured a total of 202 films, including 106 international titles and 96 national films from 46 participating countries, collectively presenting over 83 hours of screenings. The sections were organised across 24 curated segments, including Mosaic, Best of Fest, Busan Next Wave, Oscar Winners, Raimund Krumme Retrospective, NFDC Showcase, Echoes from North East, and Marathi Films, IFFI CMOT, among others, bringing together acclaimed works, emerging voices, and regionally rooted storytelling on a single platform. Master film maker David Attenborough was honoured with the screening of his two films under ‘Centenary Tribute’. A ‘Homage’ section showcased films by masterminds Shyam Benegal, photographer Raghu Rai, and documentary master Fredric Wiseman, whose works reminded audiences why non-feature cinema endures, stated MD, NFDC. This edition of MIFF also introduced two new curated sections, ‘Echoes from North East’, showcasing seven films from the region, and ‘Marathi Films’, featuring 19 films in collaboration with Film City Maharashtra - reinforcing MIFF’s commitment to celebrating diverse regional voices within Indian cinema.

As the curtains come down on the 19th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival, the spirit of storytelling, creativity, and cinematic excellence continues to inspire filmmakers and audiences alike. If films are food for the soul, MIFF has once again nourished minds with powerful narratives, diverse perspectives, and transformative ideas. While this chapter concludes, the journey of celebrating meaningful cinema goes on. The film lovers will now look forward to 57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and also MIFF’s next edition in 2028, when the curtains will rise once again to welcome storytellers from across the world and reaffirm the enduring power of films to connect, inspire, and create lasting impact.

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