MAFF 2026: A Landmark Debut for Independent Cinema in Mumbai

Mumbai, November 2026: The inaugural edition of the Mumbai Asian Film Festival (MAFF) 2026 wrapped up its two-day run on November 1, following a series of international screenings, award ceremonies and cultural exchanges held at the Barry John Acting Studio in Mumbai. The event featured 18 films representing 11 nations, serving as a hub for independent filmmakers, industry veterans and cinema lovers to honor creative storytelling.

Renowned actor, writer and director Makarand Deshpande graced the opening ceremony as the Chief Guest. The festival’s jury panel brought together significant industry expertise, featuring National Award-winning filmmaker and writer Niraj Kumar Mishra, director Aranya Sahay—known for Humans in the Loop—and National Award-winning filmmaker Charitra Raj.

Spanning October 31 and November 1, the MAFF lineup included entries from India, Bangladesh, the Czech Republic, Spain, Thailand, Iran, the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates. This global selection underscored the festival's dedication to independent cinema, cross-border narratives and highlighting emerging creative voices.

Makarand Deshpande Opens the Festival as Chief Guest

The festival kicked off with Makarand Deshpande serving as the Chief Guest for the opening ceremony. Widely celebrated for his significant impact on Indian theatre and cinema, Deshpande has carved out a unique niche as an actor, writer and director.

'Mandali' Opens the Festival's Cinematic Journey

The cinematic program launched with Mandali, directed by Rakesh Chaturvedi Om, serving as the official opening film. By delving into complex themes of faith, power and societal dynamics, the film set the stage for the two-day event. Its inclusion highlighted the festival's preference for narratives that challenge audiences to reflect on broader social and cultural realities while championing independent filmmaking.

18 Films from 11 Countries Celebrate International Cinema

A core highlight of MAFF 2026 was its international selection. With 18 films hailing from 11 countries, the schedule exposed viewers to a diverse array of cultural backgrounds, social experiences and cinematic techniques. Participating nations included India, Bangladesh, the Czech Republic, Spain, Thailand, Iran, the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.

The curated list emphasized socially relevant themes, human-centric stories and culturally grounded perspectives. Through this global lineup, MAFF sought to foster artistic collaboration, build bridges between Indian and international filmmakers and offer greater exposure to independent productions.

'The Prayer' Concludes the Festival

The festival drew to a close with The Prayer, a 2024 Indian Hindi short film selected as the closing feature. Written and directed by Nivedita Pohankar and produced by Makarand Deshpande under the Mak World Films banner, the project features Aaditi S. Pohankar, Makarand Deshpande and Smita Jayakar.

The film united prominent creative figures from the Indian theatre and film landscape. Its selection also created a thematic bridge between the opening and closing ceremonies, given Deshpande’s role as the Chief Guest at the start and his production involvement in the final film.

21 Awards Recognise Outstanding Filmmaking Achievements

MAFF 2026 honoured creative talent from both India and abroad, presenting 21 awards across categories including writing, cinematography, editing, acting and direction. Notable winners included Sheng Heyun and Liu Fang, who took home Best Cinematography for Assimilation, while Sandeep Raj secured both Best Writing and Best Director for Warranty.

The award recipients were:

Writing, Technical and Direction Categories

• Best Writing – Sandeep Raj (Warranty)
• Best Cinematography – Sheng Heyun and Liu Fang (Assimilation)
• Best Editing – Parth Kawale (Draupadi Se Draupadi Tak)
• Best Director – Sandeep Raj (Warranty)
• Best Debut Director – Dhananjay Nirmalaxman Sable (Dear Panther)

Acting Categories

• Best Actor Male – International Feature – Jishnu C J (Warranty)
• Best Actor Female – International Feature – Matcha Mosimann (In Harmony)
• Best Actor Male – Indian Feature – Appukutti (Piranthanaal Vazhthukal)
• Best Actor Female – Indian Feature – Swathi Sharma (Game of Song)
• Best Actor Male – International Short – Xu Feng (Nowhere To Place)
• Best Actor Female – International Short – Zhang Yanan (Assimilation)
• Best Actor Male – Indian Short – Rahul Phaltankar (Finger Ring)
• Best Actor Female – Indian Short – Preeti Panigrahi (Echoes)
• Best Actor Female – Indian Short – Vartika Tiwari (Draupadi Se Draupadi Tak)

Film and Special Recognition Categories

• Special Jury Award – Dear Panther
• Best Student Film – Draupadi Se Draupadi Tak
• Best International Short Film – Assimilation
• Best Indian Short Film – Echoes
• Best Indian Documentary – A Small Desire
• Best International Feature Film – In Harmony
• Best Indian Feature Film – Warranty

The awards acknowledged contributions across different filmmaking disciplines, highlighting the collaborative effort behind independent cinema.

The Team Behind Mumbai Asian Film Festival 2026

The inaugural MAFF was orchestrated by a team of professionals with deep expertise in filmmaking, festival management, international cinema, cultural programming and creative production.

The festival was co-founded by Smita Uchil and Kundan Kumaar, who were instrumental in defining the festival's creative vision and strategic roadmap. Uchil, also a co-founder of showtickets.asia, contributes extensive experience in large-scale live events and film distribution, including her work with the Singapore South Asian International Film Festival. Kumaar brings over eight years of experience in festival strategy and curation, having collaborated with institutions such as the Cannes Film Festival, IFFI Goa and NFDC.

Ashok Purang took on the role of Festival Director. A seasoned theatre practitioner and creative producer, he is the founder-director of Pierrot's Troupe and served as the Creative Producer for the National Award-winning film Filmistaan. His background spans theatre, cinema and international film festivals.

The festival was mentored by Subhransu Das, an Indian filmmaker, director and cinematographer recognized for his work on projects like The Last Color, Filmistaan and The Kashmir Files: Unreported. His directorial feature Pushkaraa was honoured with the 71st National Film Award for Best Odia Feature Film.

Namita Lal joined as an advisor, leveraging her background as an actor, producer and entrepreneur. A former international banker, she has navigated the worlds of independent cinema and international film platforms, including Cannes and the Marché du Film.

Festival Advisor Hasan Naved contributed his extensive background in broadcast journalism, film festivals and event management. With over 18 years in the media sector, he has been associated with various international festivals, such as the Dubai International Film Festival and the European Union Film Festival Abu Dhabi.

Collectively, the team provided a wealth of professional perspectives and international industry insight to the festival's debut, supporting its mission to create a dedicated platform for Asian independent cinema.

MAFF's Vision: Films, Culture and Connections

Centered on the philosophy of Films, Culture and Connections, the Mumbai Asian Film Festival strives to unite filmmakers, artists, audiences and creative professionals through the medium of cinema and cultural engagement.

This inaugural edition represented a significant milestone in building a hub for independent filmmaking, diverse storytelling and international artistic exchange. Mumbai’s long-standing history with the Indian film industry offers an ideal backdrop for this initiative.

By introducing audiences to international cinematic works and fostering creative dialogue, MAFF aims to strengthen ties between Indian and global filmmaking communities while creating new avenues for independent filmmakers to present their work.