By — Dilip Guha

Housefull shows, electrifying star power, and a roaring public response mark a landmark edition of the International Film Festival of Delhi, marking a landmark inaugural edition

The International Film Festival of Delhi (IFFD) 2026 came to a resounding close on March 31, capping off days of cinematic celebration with a finale that was as expansive as it was electric. If the earlier days built momentum, the final day turned it into a full-blown citywide experience. Marking a landmark inaugural edition, IFFD 2026 set the tone for Delhi’s emergence as a global film and cultural destination.

Organised by the Delhi Tourism & Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC) in association with the Government of Delhi, the International Film Festival of Delhi is a government-led, city-wide festival that showcases Indian and international cinema while making film culture accessible to audiences across the capital.

The scale of the festival was evident from the outset. IFFD 2026 received an overwhelming 2,187 entries from over 100 countries, including 1,372 international and 815 Indian feature and non-feature films, marking a strong global and domestic response in its very first edition.

The festival saw the presence of several prominent voices from across the film industry, including Amir Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Manoj Bajpayee, Bhumi Pednekar, Boman Irani, Divya Dutta, Arjun Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra, Hema Malini, Kangana Ranaut, Sharmila Tagore, Neeraj Kabi, Piyush Mishra, Guneet Monga, Madhur Bhandarkar, Mohit Suri, K. K. Senthil Kumar, Chaitanya Chinchlikar, Shweta Basu Prasad, and Imtiaz Ali, along with many other filmmakers, actors, creators, and international delegates – Anthony Chen, Singaporean film director and screenwriter; and Spain delegates Paco Morales and Enrique Arce, Money Heist Actor, who participated across screenings, red carpets, and conversations, further reflecting the scale and diversity of engagement at IFFD 2026… The festival was led by Festival Director, IFFD, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra; Artistic Director, IFFD, Vani Tripathi Tikoo, with Sunit Tandon serving as part of the preview jury, helping shape the curatorial direction of its inaugural edition.

The festival showcased over 125 films from 47 countries across 15+ venues in the capital, drawing more than 30,000 unique registrations. The programme also reflected strong global credibility, featuring films associated with major international platforms including Cannes, Berlinale, Busan, SGIFF, the Oscars, IIFA, and the National Awards. The festival also extended into public spaces through LED screenings and pop-up formats, further opening up cinema to wider audiences across the city.

Anchored at Bharat Mandapam and extended across multiplexes and open-air venues across the city, the festival transformed Delhi into a truly accessible cinematic space. With a carefully curated programming mix of 40% Hindi cinema, 30% international films, and 30% regional Indian cinema, alongside specialised categories such as patriotic, spiritual, and children’s cinema, IFFD created a programme that balanced scale with diversity.

By bringing together global trends and local narratives, the festival not only showcased cinema but also reinforced its larger vision to position Delhi as a major cultural hub while fostering a deeper engagement with storytelling across audiences.

And the response remained consistent: full houses, engaged viewers, and an unmistakable sense of occasion. What truly defined IFFD 2026 was the scale and enthusiasm of its audience response. From early morning queues to packed late-night screenings, viewers showed up in overwhelming numbers, often staying back for discussions and interactions. The energy extended beyond auditoriums into corridors, expo spaces, and informal conversations, turning the festival into a shared, citywide experience rather than just a series of screenings.

Building on its international collaborations, IFFD 2026 also partnered with the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), one of Asia’s most respected cinema platforms. This association added a strong layer of global exchange to the festival, strengthening ties between regional and international film ecosystems while expanding opportunities for dialogue, discovery, and cross-border collaboration. As part of this collaboration, Iloilo was also showcased, adding a regional cultural dimension to the exchange.

Designed as a holistic ecosystem, IFFD 2026 brought together screenings, industry engagement, and policy dialogue through key platforms, including the Film Screenings Programme, CineXchange, and the CineVerse Expo.

The final day wasn’t just about screenings. It brought together some of the most anticipated conversations of the festival. At Bharat Mandapam, masterclasses and sessions continued to draw interest, with audiences turning up in large numbers for insights straight from the craft.

Spain was honoured as the “Country of Focus” at the festival, highlighting a significant cultural collaboration as part of the India–Spain Dual Year 2026. A curated showcase featured Spanish cinema, prominently including “Sirât,” the Oscar-nominated film by Olivier Laxe, which brought global storytelling into the spotlight. The participation of a Spanish delegation, along with actor Enrique Arce and Parco Morales, further enhanced the festival’s international reach. Additionally, industry interactions and the IFFD Cine Exchange created opportunities for co-productions and long-term collaborations.

Further highlighting the festival’s focus on innovation, the AI Filmmaking Hackathon, launched in association with LTM and powered by IDFC FIRST Bank, brought together creators from across the country to explore storytelling through artificial intelligence. The winning film, Echoes of Monastery, was awarded Best AI Film at the Night of Honours.

 Festival Draws  Young Cinema Enthusiasts

The International Film Festival in Delhi attracted film lovers and aspiring artists from across the country. Among them is Meghna, a student of the National School of Drama (NSD), who travelled from far to attend screenings and participate in workshops.

Expressing her excitement, Meghna said, “This film festival encourages people to become part of the wider circle of Bollywood and Hindi cinema. It transforms our passion for cinema into something much bigger.”

She highlighted the unique opportunities the festival offers, including exposure to renowned celebrities, directors, and writers. “We even get access to free masterclasses conducted by celebrated personalities like Imtiaz Ali, Anupam Kher, and Divya Dutta. These experiences are truly inspiring,” she added.

According to Meghna, such festivals play a crucial role in bridging the gap for aspiring artists who may not yet have the opportunity to move to Mumbai. “Events like this open doors for people who dream of entering the film industry. They give us direction and hope to achieve our goals,” she said.

She also emphasised the global significance of the event. “Being an international festival, it represents India on a global stage and brings together diverse cultures from across the world.”

The festival, she noted, offers a vibrant cultural experience for Delhi residents as well. With screenings in multiple languages, it promotes inclusivity and celebrates the linguistic diversity of India. “It’s a place where people can escape their routine, experience different cultures, and truly enjoy cinema,” Meghna remarked.

Praising the organisation of the event, she said the management and cultural coordination have been commendable. She also expressed gratitude to the organisers, including Kapil Mishra, for creating such an engaging and enriching platform.

“We not only get to see celebrities but also gain valuable knowledge and insights that can guide us in our careers and lives,” Meghna concluded.

 A startup film, Laalo – Krishna Sada Sahaayate, is a 2025 Gujarati-language devotional drama that blends spirituality with psychological introspection and was screened on the last day. Directed by Ankit Sakhiya and written by Krushansh Vaja, Vicky Poornima, and Sakhiya himself, the film features performances by Reeva Rachh, Shruhad Goswami, Karan Joshi, and Mishty Kadecha.

The story follows a rickshaw driver who finds himself trapped inside a secluded farmhouse, cut off from the outside world. As isolation sets in, he is forced to confront the buried traumas and moral conflicts of his past. What begins as a tense, introspective ordeal gradually takes a spiritual turn when he starts experiencing visions of Lord Krishna. These divine encounters act as a guiding force, leading him through a profound journey of self-reflection, redemption, and emotional healing.

With its mix of devotional elements and character-driven storytelling, Laalo – Krishna Sada Sahaayate attempts to explore themes of guilt, faith, and inner transformation, offering a narrative that is both contemplative and spiritually resonant.

Closing Film Amoeba, winner of the FIPRESCI award, a fitting end to a week of storytelling that ranged from intimate to epic.

What truly set this edition apart was its scale and accessibility. “Housefull” quickly became the defining word of IFFD 2026 across venues, formats, and days. But beyond numbers, there was a visible shift: audiences weren’t just attending; they were participating. They stayed back for discussions, engaged with creators, and turned each screening into a shared cultural moment.