By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi
New Delhi: The inaugural International Film Festival, Delhi (IFFD) 2026 culminated in a star-studded ‘Night of Honors’ at Bharat Mandapam, with Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta underlining the event’s ambition to shape the capital into a global centre for cinema, culture and innovation.
Describing the festival as “not merely an event but the foundation of a movement,” Sandhu said IFFD reflects a larger vision to position Delhi and India at the forefront of the global creative economy. He emphasised that stories rooted in Indian realities have the potential to resonate worldwide, and called filmmakers “cultural ambassadors” who convey courage, truth and perspective through cinema.
Gupta said the festival marks a significant step towards establishing Delhi as a global cultural and cinematic hub. “Cinema has the power to connect, inspire and transform aspirations into reality,” she noted, adding that the platform would especially benefit emerging artists and women in the industry while strengthening the capital’s “orange economy”.
Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra said the government aims to develop Delhi into a hub of creativity and innovation, while encouraging youth participation in filmmaking. He announced that three projects emerging from the festival will soon be released nationwide and urged filmmakers to create content that not only succeeds commercially but also inspires citizens.
The event drew prominent figures from the film fraternity, including Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Anupam Kher, Bhumi Pednekar, Divya Dutta and Arjan Bajwa. Veteran filmmaker Ramesh Sippy was felicitated for 50 years of his iconic film Sholay.
Cultural performances added vibrancy to the evening, with a poetic presentation by Kher and a musical performance by Grammy-winning composer Ricky Kej.
In its first edition, IFFD recorded a strong global footprint, receiving over 2,100 film entries from more than 100 countries and over 30,000 registrations. More than 125 films from 47 countries were screened across 15 venues in the capital.
Awards were presented across categories, with personalities such as Guneet Monga, Dutta and Pednekar honoured under the ‘Capital’s Pride’ segment. The festival also recognised winners of an AI filmmaking hackathon, signalling a push towards new-age cinema.
Spain featured as the ‘Focus Country’, while the Singapore International Film Festival partnered as an official collaborator. The Cine Exchange platform showcased co-production opportunities, while the Cineverse Expo highlighted policy, technology and cinematic heritage with participation from multiple states and Union Territories.
Screenings ranged from mainstream and regional Indian cinema in 12 languages to documentaries, short films and AI-driven projects. Classic and popular titles such as Rang De Basanti, Roja, Taare Zameen Par and The Goat Life drew significant audience interest.
A memorandum of understanding between Delhi Tourism and Prasar Bharati was also signed to boost film tourism and broadcasting opportunities.
The week-long festival will conclude on March 31 with a closing ceremony, marking what organisers describe as the beginning of a sustained cultural movement for the capital.
