The 18th Habitat Film Festival concluded on May 24, 2026, after ten days of cinema at the India Habitat Centre, drawing over 10,000 attendees and closing with the acclaimed Marathi feature Tighee. The festival reaffirmed its position as a leading platform for alternative, regional, and independent Indian storytelling.
Speaking on the festival’s resounding success, Prof. (Dr.) KG Suresh, Director, India Habitat Centre and Festival Director, said, “Each edition of the Habitat Film Festival is a reaffirmation of our belief in cinema as a living, breathing conversation — one that bridges generations, languages, and cultures. This year, once again, we saw how a well-told story, whether from a master filmmaker or a first-time director, can move, provoke, and unite an audience. As the curtains fall on the 18th edition, we carry forward not just memories of great films, but a renewed commitment to nurturing a space where every cinematic voice, however independent or regional, finds its home.”
Chief Guest Satish Namburipad, Director General of Doordarshan, addressed the closing ceremony, observing, “The Habitat Film Festival serves as a vital cultural beacon, celebrating the languages, textures, and voices of Indian cinema often overlooked by mainstream spaces. It is heartening to witness a platform that preserves our cinematic heritage while boldly embracing the emerging voices shaping the future of Indian filmmaking.”
Running from May 15 to 24, HFF 2026 presented 79 films across 20 languages — 45 features, 19 short films, and 15 documentaries. Restored classics included Umrao Jaan, a tribute to Asha Bhosle’s artistry, and Chupke Chupke, honouring the legacy of Dharmendra and Asrani. A four-film retrospective celebrated Ritwik Ghatak through Meghe Dhaka Tara, Komal Gandhar, Subarnarekha, and Jukti Takko Aar Gappo.
The contemporary selection highlighted bold new voices with works such as Moham, Porshi, Shavapetti, Kadaknath, and Tighee. The works of over 15 women filmmakers featured in the programme, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to inclusivity. Lively post-screening discussions with directors, cast, and crew enriched the experience.
Masterclasses and conversations added further depth: National Award-winning filmmaker Kamakhya Narayan Singh presented From Research to Reel: Crafting Feature Film Stories, while animation filmmaker Dhvani Desai joined critic Murtaza Ali Khan for a discussion on Animation Storytelling: India vis-à-vis the World. An archival exhibition with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts showcased rare Hindi film posters and vintage advertising memorabilia from the 1950s onwards.
The festival also presented a curated selection of short films and documentaries from the Film and Television Institute of India, a special package by the Indian Documentary Producers’ Association, works nominated by the Film Critics Guild, and short documentaries by the Public Service Broadcasting Trust, collectively showcasing intimate, independent, and deeply personal narratives from across the country.
More than a film festival, HFF 2026 emerged as a vibrant cultural movement — a space where cinema reflects the present, imagines the future, and brings together students, critics, filmmakers, and cinephiles in celebration of India’s ever-expanding cinematic landscape.
