''Delhi International Film Festival (DIFF)''

Welcome To DIFF

We are delighted to inform you that the 15th Delhi International Film Festival (DIFF) 2026 is being organized as a five-day event in New Delhi, in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (Ministry of Culture). This edition marks the 15th installment of the Delhi International Film Festival, scheduled to run from May 4 to May 8, 2026.

The festival will showcase films from over 50 countries across various categories, including Indian Showcase, World Cinema, Arab Cinema, NRI Cinema, and Across-Border Cinema. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies will serve as the main highlights of the event. This year, the festival places a special focus on Arab Cinema and the cinema of India's Northeastern region.

However, the most significant aspect of the 15th edition is the screening of films centered on women's empowerment and social issues concerning children.

In previous editions, Canada, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Morocco, Tunisia, Palestine, Russia, and Israel have served as Country Partners. Eight films screened and awarded at the Delhi International Film Festival have gone on to win National Awards, while four foreign films have served as official entries for the Oscars on behalf of their respective countries.

DIFF is a unique festival of its kind, playing a pivotal role in promoting Indian cinema, art, and culture—not only in Central Asian and Arab nations but also across European countries. DIFF has organized Indian film programs in the DPRK (North Korea), Sri Lanka, Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia. Last year, in collaboration with the Indian Embassy in Morocco, DIFF also organized an Indian cultural program in Morocco.

Another distinctive feature of DIFF is its inclusive approach. The festival features a significant presence from all of India's regional film industries; in particular, the vast South Indian film industry enjoys strong representation at DIFF. Furthermore, DIFF extends its support and guidance to the Jharkhand and Haryana International Film Festivals, as well as to upcoming film festivals organized in South India and other nations. As part of a noble endeavor to celebrate Indian cinema, the DIFFA Awards—standing for the Delhi International Film Festival Academy Awards—are planned to be held annually abroad, with the aim of promoting and honoring outstanding contributions made to Indian cinema.

This year, the DIFF Lifetime Achievement Award will be conferred upon the world-renowned singer, Ms. Usha Uthup. In this regard, plans are underway to invite artists such as Ms. Sharmila Tagore, Ketan Mehta, Runa Laila, Rituparna Sengupta, Raghubir Yadav, Rajpal Yadav, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Mukesh Tiwari, Yashpal Sharma, Mita Vashisht, Chittaranjan Tripathi, Shruti Ulfat, Piyush Mishra, and Renuka Shahane.