JIFF 2026 Announces Third List of Officially Nominated Films

51 Films and 21 Screenplays from 23 Countries Selected. A Celebration of Global Cinematic Excellence

The 18th Jaipur International Film Festival (JIFF) 2026, scheduled to be held from 13 to 15 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, has officially announced its third list of nominated films on Thursday.

Earlier, the festival had released its first list featuring 221 films from 37 countries, followed by the second list comprising 119 films selected from 29 countries. With the announcement of the third list, JIFF 2026 continues to strengthen its position as one of the world’s most diverse and competitive film festivals, showcasing outstanding cinematic works from across the globe.

The third list of nominations features 51 films and 21 screenplays from 23 countries, selected from a total of 387 international submissions. These entries span a wide range of competitive categories, including Feature Fiction, Documentary Feature, Short Fiction, Documentary Short, Animation, Photography, Song/Music, Screenplay, and Student Films. Representing filmmakers from across the globe, the selections underscore the festival’s strong commitment to artistic excellence, cultural diversity, and meaningful global cinematic dialogue.

This year, JIFF 2026 will bring together more than 1,000 film professionals—including filmmakers, directors, producers, writers, actors, and cinema scholars—from over 50 countries, all under one roof. This marks a historic first in India, showcasing an unprecedented convergence of global cinema talent.

Third List – Category-wise Selections

The third list of nominations includes a total of 51 films and 21 screenplays selected from 23 countries, out of 387 film and screenplay submissions received from 30 countries. The category-wise breakup is as follows:

·         Feature Fiction Films – 18

·         Documentary Feature Films – 7

·         Short Fiction Films – 16

·         Documentary Short Films – 3

·         Animation Short Films – 3

·         Photography – 3

·         Song / Music Album – 1

·         Screenplays – 21

·         Student Films – 1

 

Feature Fiction & Documentary Feature Films

The third list prominently features 18 Feature Fiction films and 7 Documentary Feature films from India and abroad. These films reflect a wide range of social, cultural, political, and human stories, highlighting the richness and diversity of contemporary world cinema.

Selected Feature Fiction Films (Highlights)

The third list showcases several notable Feature Fiction films from India and across the globe. A few highlighted titles include:

• “Debt to the Dead” – Directed by Daniel Castro Zimbrón (Mexico)
• “Pinch” – Directed by Uttera Singh (India)
• “Stay Forte” – Directed by Doron Wran (Israel / United States)
• “Maria Vitória” – Directed by Mário Patrocínio (Portugal)
• “Romancing Sydney” – Directed by Anmol Mishra (Australia)

The festival will feature participation of over 600 films, including a significant number of Indian and World Premiere feature films. In addition, special screenings of internationally acclaimed and award-winning films will be presented during the festival.

The Red-Carpet Opening Ceremony of JIFF 2026 will be held on 13 February 2026, followed by the Grand Award Ceremony on 14 February 2026. The festival will also host a wide range of workshops, seminars, panel discussions, and one-to-one dialogues, offering meaningful engagement and insight into the future of the film industry.

Founder–Director of JIFF, Mr. Hanu Roj, in his statement, said that JIFF 2026 aims to provide a powerful global platform for meaningful cinema and emerging voices, while fostering collaboration between filmmakers, writers, producers, and cultural leaders from India and abroad. Hosting the festival in New Delhi as part of the GLOBAL CINE CONFLUENCE – Delhi Film Convention & Summit 2026 further reinforces JIFF’s vision of supporting the Global Cinema Movement.