File picture: A large advertising screen celebrates Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday, in Piccadilly Circus, London, Britain, May 8, 2026. | Photo Credit: JACK TAYLOR

As many as 346 films from 46 countries will be showcased at the upcoming edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF), set to be held here from June 15 to 21, organisers said Friday.

The festival, organised by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), has received 1,459 entries from across the globe this year.

The 19th edition of the festival promises a vibrant confluence of creativity, culture, innovation and global cinematic excellence.

Prakash Magdum, Managing Director, NFDC, said MIFF 2026 has received an overwhelming response this year from across the competition and non-competition sections.

"This year we have got a record number of entries with films from various parts of the world. Apart from the screenings, we have master classes where people with expertise in their respective domains will come and share their knowledge. We do have an open forum where current issues and challenges or opportunities being faced by the documentary world will be debated," Magdum said at the press conference here.

Apart from movie screenings, filmmaker David Attenborough will be honoured with a screening of his two films, under 'Centenary Tribute'. The details regarding Attenborough's movies are yet to be shared by the organisers.

The competition section will present 144 films, including 52 international and 92 national entries, representing filmmakers from 13 countries, while the non-competition section will have 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 mid-fest line-up, scheduled on 18th June, will include the animated film 'Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe!' directed by Andrea Szelesova (Czech Republic & Slovakia), the short fiction 'Hyena', directed by Altay Ulan Yang (United States), and the documentary, 'I Love You, I Leave You', directed by Moris Freiburghaus (Switzerland), each offering distinct storytelling styles and international perspectives.

This year's edition has also introduced two new curated sections, 'Marathi Films' and 'Echoes from Northeast', aimed at showcasing regional cinematic voices and celebrating India's cultural diversity.

For the first time, MIFF will host an AI cinema hackathon titled "Mumbai Through a Thousand Eyes", a 48-hour global filmmaking challenge exploring AI-driven storytelling. The festival will also feature 10 masterclasses and multiple panel discussions with eminent filmmakers and industry experts.

The festival will confer 18 awards across international and national competition categories, carrying a total prize money of ₹ 45 lakh along with trophies and certificates.

One of the highlights of the opening ceremony, to be held on June 15, will be the presentation of the prestigious V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award, coinciding with the 125th birth anniversary year of the legendary filmmaker.

Apart from the NFDC complex, the screenings will also take place at Ravindra Natya Mandir in Dadar and two colleges, namely SVKM’s Usha Pravin Gandhi College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Ville Parle, and St Paul’s Institute of Communication Education, Bandra.

Published on June 13, 2026