Dilip Guha ★ New Delhi : New Delhi will host its first International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD) from March 25 to 31, marking a major cultural initiative by the city government to position the capital as a global cinematic hub. More than 125 Indian and international films are set to be screened across multiple venues, including Bharat Mandapam, as part of the week-long, city-wide celebration of cinema.
The festival was formally announced at an event hosted by the Delhi Government, through the Delhi Tourism & Transportation Development Corporation Ltd. (DTTDC) at The Leela Palace in Chanakyapuri last Wednesday. Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra led the evening, which brought together leading figures from the film and entertainment industries, cultural curators, industry stakeholders and members of the media.
City-wide festival to position the Capital as a global film hub, with focus on tourism, talent and industry growth
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Launching the official logo of IFFD 2026 at a special ceremony, the Delhi Hon’ble Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta, called it a defining symbol of the Capital’s creative aspirations. She said the logo “clearly indicates the direction of establishing the capital as a hub of global cinema and creative industry,” adding that it gives Delhi “a new global identity.” Present at the event were Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra, Padma Shri Manoj Joshi, actors Arjun Kapoor, Nimrat Kaur and Divya Dutta, and filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, attending as the chief guest, described the festival as a significant step towards establishing Delhi as a global cultural destination. She said the initiative is designed as an inclusive, public festival that belongs to the people of the city. Emphasising accessibility and participation, she noted that the event aims to support creativity, generate opportunities and place Delhi firmly on the international cultural map. She says, “Delhi has always shaped culture, not followed it. With International Film Festival Delhi, we are creating a public festival that belongs to the people of this city.” “This is not an event for a few insiders. It is a city-wide celebration of cinema that supports creativity, creates opportunity and places Delhi firmly on the global cultural map.”
Delhi has historic ties to major film events. The International Film Festival of India (IFFI), established in 1952, was originally hosted in the capital for several years before being permanently shifted to Panaji in 2004. With IFFD, the Delhi government is seeking to revive the city’s legacy as a prominent venue for global cinema.
Conceived as a government-led cultural project, IFFD aims to make world cinema accessible to residents while fostering a vibrant film culture. Organisers said the festival will feature premieres, neighbourhood screenings, master classes, live performances and cultural activations across heritage sites and public spaces. Programming will include industry roundtables, workshops and talent platforms designed to connect local creators with international collaborators.
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A key highlight will be dedicated showcases for digital and emerging cinema, encouraging innovation driven by new technologies. The festival will also host the CineXchange Film Market and Cineverse Expo, platforms intended to facilitate networking, distribution and investment opportunities for film professionals.
International Platform For Young Talent: Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra
Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra said the festival would provide young talent with an international platform and promote dialogue around evolving cinematic practices. He added that the initiative is part of a broader vision to streamline processes and strengthen institutional support for filmmakers through a unified tourism framework.
He says, “IFFD is a celebration of Delhi’s vibrant spirit and its people.” By transforming public spaces into dynamic arenas for cinema and cultural dialogue, we are bringing world-class creative experiences closer to every citizen. Through a unified Tourism Board, we aim to streamline processes, provide stronger institutional support to filmmakers and creative industries and attract greater national and international media attention to Delhi. Our vision is to position the city as a thriving cultural capital that inspires participation, pride and global recognition,” he added.
DTTDC Managing Director and CEO Suneel Anchipaka described IFFD as a long-term cultural institution rather than a one-off event, with ambitions to grow year after year and attract visitors from across India and abroad. He says, “IFFD is not a one-week spectacle. We are building a cultural institution for Delhi that grows year after year “We want to give citizens a festival they can truly participate in and take pride in. One that attracts visitors to join us in Delhi to partake in the celebrations,” he added.
Festival Director Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra called IFFD a platform for young storytellers to discover and be discovered, adding that the festival seeks to amplify Delhi’s neighbourhood narratives while connecting them to global audiences. He said: “IFFD is a platform for the youth to challenge themselves and be challenged, to be inspired and to inspire, to discover and be discovered. Several inspiring stories are waiting to be told, and the International Film Festival Delhi is the platform to ignite a new flame for cinema. Through the festival, we also seek to amplify Delhi’s stories, from its neighbourhoods to its stages, and to connect local talent with global audiences. I’m honoured to help build a festival that truly belongs to the city.”
Actors including Divya Dutta, Nimrat Kaur and Arjun Kapoor expressed support for the initiative, highlighting Delhi’s cultural energy and its influence on their artistic journeys.
Actor Divya Dutta said, “As a Delhi girl, these streets are part of me. I’ve played characters shaped by the city’s humour and grit, and I’m proud to welcome IFFD, a festival that brings those neighbourhood stories to a wider audience.”
Actor Nimrat Kaur said: “Delhi shaped me, from DPS Noida to Shri Ram College of Commerce and the city’s endless, messy journeys on U-specials, and it was there I found the stories I needed to tell. The Lunchbox proved that the most intimate story can be the most universal; cinema carries feeling across languages and borders. That’s exactly what IFFD stands for: a space where local voices find global audiences. As someone who has lived on both sides of the camera, I’m proud to be part of this festival and to champion the young storytellers of Delhi: tell your story honestly, unapologetically, and the world will listen.”
Actor Arjun Kapoor said: “There’s something about Delhi, its energy, its diversity, its conversations, its myriad cultures. It carries centuries of history comfortably with its cool modern energy. IFFD taps into that composite facet of the city, bringing together artistes and storytellers from across the country under one roof. I see IFFD as a reminder that stories can start anywhere, and a city as multifaceted as this has plenty waiting to be told. In Delhi, something powerful is always about to begin. I’m excited to experience it with everyone.”
According to organisers, the festival aligns with the Delhi government’s film policy, with a focus on film tourism, talent development, industry collaboration and the growth of the creative economy. Plans include a proposed single-window facilitation system to streamline shooting permissions and production processes, aimed at making the capital more accessible to filmmakers.
The execution of the inaugural edition is being led by Wizcraft Entertainment Group, known for producing large-scale entertainment events, including the IIFA Awards. Knowledge partnership support is being provided by KPMG.
Sabbas Joseph, Co-founder and Director of Wizcraft Entertainment Group, said the initiative establishes a global cultural property of scale and ambition, signalling Delhi’s intent to emerge as a lasting hub for cinema and cultural exchange. He said: “What we launched today goes beyond a festival format; it establishes a global cultural property. At this scale, the platform creates meaningful opportunities for Indian and international storytellers to connect, collaborate and find audiences worldwide. The sheer largeness and ambition of the project signal that Delhi is stepping onto the world stage as a lasting hub for cinema and cultural exchange.”
With a combination of screenings, industry engagement and public programming, IFFD is positioned not only as a week-long celebration of film but as a strategic effort to transform Delhi into a preferred destination for filmmakers, production houses and cultural tourism.
