One of the most compelling highlights of the 18th edition of the Habitat Film Festival 2026, which concludes on Sunday, was a Bengali cinema showcase that brought together an evocative mix of restored classics and contemporary independent voices shaped by memory, displacement, identity and social realities.
As the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) came to a close in Goa, there was a sense that something larger than the event itself had just taken place.
Highlighting that all jury-members were “on the same page for whatever films we selected”, Gulati said that they were watching the content, which is more important than anything else.
The parade will be led by the state tableaus of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, and Goa, each presenting a portrait of the state’s identity and imagination.
The annual event will feature more than 240 films from 81 countries, including 13 world premieres, four international premieres, and 46 Asian premieres.
The festival screened 52 films selected from 148 entries, representing different states. The mix included feature films, documentaries, and short films, each portraying tribal life, folklore, and traditions with authenticity
Actress Shruti Haasan, whose British psychological thriller film ‘The Eye’ made its India premiere as the opening feature of the 5th Wench Film Festival, has shared that she has always been drawn to stories that explore love, darkness, and self-discovery.
Another gem of the 'Legacy Rewind' slate is Mansoor Khan, who will showcase two of his beloved films: 'Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak' (1988) and 'Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar' (1992).
Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor hilariously shared that her mother gave “theplas” in tiffin for her trip to the Red Sea Film Festival.
The 55th International Film Festival of India, popularly known as IFFI, ended on 28 November. India’s own film festival had been exhaustive and exploratory this year, with many new, innovative things for cine goers from across the world.
