BIFFES 2026 to showcase 200+ films from 60 countries; Prakash Raj named brand ambassador

The 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival will run from January 29 to February 6, with women’s empowerment as the central theme and screenings planned across multiple venues in the city.

The 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFES) will be held from January 29 to February 6, bringing a wide range of acclaimed cinema from India and across the world to the city. The festival will place a special emphasis on women’s empowerment, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced after chairing a preparatory meeting on Tuesday.

Senior actor, director and producer Prakash Raj has been appointed the brand ambassador for this edition of BIFFES. The inaugural ceremony will take place at a prominent public venue, with the opening event scheduled on the grand steps in front of Vidhana Soudha.

Film screenings will be spread across 11 screens at Cinepolis, Lulu Mall in Rajajinagar, which will serve as the main festival hub. In addition, selected films will be screened at Dr Rajkumar Bhavana, Kalavidara Sangha in Chamarajapet, and Suchitra Film Society in Banashankari, expanding access to audiences across Bengaluru.

The Chief Minister said the application process for films in the Asian, Indian and Kannada competitive sections has already begun and has received an encouraging response. More than 110 films have been submitted so far across these three categories. The last date for film submissions to the competitive sections is December 31.

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Overall, the festival will feature over 200 films from 60 countries, including a strong lineup of Kannada and Indian cinema. More than 400 screenings are planned during the nine-day festival. Several films that have been screened at and awarded by leading international film festivals will be shown in Bengaluru.

These include films from prestigious platforms such as Cannes (France), Berlin (Germany), Venice (Italy), Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic), Locarno (Switzerland), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Busan (South Korea) and Toronto (Canada). Films shortlisted for the Academy Awards (Oscars) from different countries will also be part of the programme.

International cultural institutions are partnering with BIFFES for this edition. The Polish Institute New Delhi, Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Bengaluru, Alliance Française de Bangalore, and the Royal Thailand Consulate are facilitating film screenings from their respective countries.

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Among the special segments, a retrospective of renowned Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda will be organised in collaboration with the Polish Institute New Delhi to mark his birth centenary. The Alliance Française de Bangalore will also present a curated series tracing the history of African cinema.

To accommodate a growing number of registered delegates, a special venue for academic programmes will be set up at the main festival centre. A photography exhibition showcasing key milestones from the 91-year history of the Kannada film industry will also be organised.

The Chief Minister announced that the government has allocated a grant of ₹7 crore for conducting the 17th edition of BIFFES. Awards for best films and lifetime achievement will be presented during the closing ceremony of the festival.

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