The capital witnessed a grand confluence of cinema, culture and creative energy in the form of the International Film Festival, Delhi (IFFD). Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta participated in this global event at the Night of Honors ceremony held at Bharat Mandapam. Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra was also present on this occasion.

Many eminent film personalities from India and abroad including film director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, actor Anupam Kher, actress Bhumi Pednekar, Divya Dutta, Arjan Bajwa were present in the program. Producer-director Ramesh Sippy was honored on completion of 50 years of Sholay.

Various cultural presentations and felicitation ceremonies at the function made the entire atmosphere festive. Actor Anupam Kher's poetic performance and Grammy-winning composer Ricky Cage's music provided an emotional high to the event.

LG calls filmmakers cultural ambassadors

On this occasion, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu said that organizing this film festival is not just an event, it is a vision to make Delhi and India a global center of creative economy. He said that a story born in Indian soil can touch the hearts of distant countries and such platforms become a bridge to take those stories to the world. The role of Delhi is even more special here.

He told the filmmakers that you are not just creators, you are cultural messengers. Cinema is not just frames and scripts, it is courage, vision, and truth. He said that hearty congratulations to all of you who are getting the honor today and those who did not get it, remember, every story that reached the audience is an extraordinary achievement in itself. The Lieutenant Governor said that this is not a program but has laid the foundation of a movement, which will give direction to the cultural future of Delhi and further empower India on the global creative map.

The capital is getting a new cultural identity

On this occasion, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that Delhi is the heart of the country, a city which holds within itself both history and hopes. This film festival is not just an event, but a medium to shape the new cultural identity of the capital. Cinema has the amazing power to connect people, inspire and make dreams come true. This platform will give an opportunity to new artists, filmmakers and especially women to showcase their talent.

The Chief Minister said that IFFD is an important step towards establishing Delhi as a global cultural and cinematic centre. He described this event as a powerful initiative towards promoting 'Orange Economy' and creative industries. The Chief Minister said that this festival is not just a celebration of cinema, but a vibrant platform for dialogue, innovation and cultural exchange, which will establish Delhi as a global creative hub.

6 film projects shortlisted at IFFD

Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, our aim is not to organize just a film festival, but to establish Delhi as a global center of creativity, innovation and cinema and to make the youth self-reliant.

He told that 6 film projects were shortlisted in IFFD, and I am proud to say that the 3 films coming out of this festival will be seen across the country in the future. Kapil Mishra said that the film scenario has changed. The popularity of films related to patriotism and service to the country is increasing among the new generation. Heroes who protect and serve the country are getting a place in films. Minister Kapil Mishra urged all the people associated with the film industry to keep making films which earn Rs 100 crores in the country and also keep making films which awaken the lives of 100 crore people.

Highlights of IFFD 2026

• Honors were given in various categories during the program. Film director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and IFFD Preview Committee Chairperson Suneet Tandon were honored. Along with this, many prominent personalities including Guneet Monga, Divya Dutta and Bhumi Pednekar were honored for their contribution under the Capital Pride Award.
• Celebrating its historic achievement of 50 years, the program paid a special tribute to Sholay, which created an emotional connect with the audience. At the same time, the winners of the AI ​​Filmmaking Hackathon were also honored, which is an important indication towards new and emerging forms of cinema.
• This festival achieved unprecedented success in its first year itself. Over 2,100 film entries were received from over 100 countries, while over 125 films from 47 countries were screened across over 15 venues. More than 30,000 registrations are proof that this festival has reached the masses and widespread public participation has been ensured.
• This year, Spain was included as the 'focus country' and the Singapore International Film Festival as the official partner, giving the event a global dimension. This festival, organized at various places in Delhi, did not limit it to just one event, but turned it into a city-wide cultural movement.
• Cine Exchange organized as part of the festival served as a powerful platform for the film industry, where 15 co-production projects and 4 under-production projects were presented. There was a comprehensive display of policy, technology and heritage related to film through Cineverse Expo, in which 12 states and union territories had active participation.
• Along with international cinema, Indian mainstream and regional cinema (in 12 languages), documentaries, short films, experimental cinema and AI-based films were also given a platform. The screening of famous films like Sholay, Rang De Basanti, Roja, Sitare Zameen Par and The Goat Life was a special attraction for the audience.
• During the festival, an important Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between Delhi Tourism and Prasar Bharati, which will promote new opportunities in the field of film tourism and broadcasting. The festival is headed towards its grand finale on March 31, where the final day will conclude the week-long cine festival with a variety of films, dialogues and cultural presentations.