International Cinema Festival 2026: Celebrating Excellence in Film

Highlights from the International Cinema Festival 2026

Munish Sood
Mandi
The International Cinema Festival 2026 wrapped up successfully, with 'Kawala (The Crow)' taking home the award for Best Film. 'Bhaand' and 'Adamya' followed closely, securing second and third places, respectively. The festival honored a variety of cinematic talents, presenting awards in categories such as direction, writing, acting, child performance, cinematography, and editing.

This year's festival showcased an array of short films and documentaries from across the nation, providing audiences with a rich tapestry of narratives that reflect social realities, human connections, traditions, and modern issues.

In the Best Director category, Harshvardhan Rajendra Jadhav, director of 'Kawala (The Crow)', received the top accolade, with Arunabh Mukherjee of 'Bhaand' and Yojit Soni of 'The Forbidden Card' following in second and third place, respectively.

Mukherjee also clinched the Best Writer award for 'Bhaand', while Jadhav and Haider Ali of 'M, B, A' secured second and third places.

Prosenjit Kundu was awarded Best Actor for his role as Kanai in 'Bhaand', with Ravi Karnwal from 'Chappal' and Kaushik Sawul from 'Tanuj' taking second and third places.

In the Best Actress category, Debdatta Chatterjee won for her performance as Bini in 'Bhaand'. Sheetal Raut from 'Kawala (The Crow)' and Anushree Shukla from 'Trapido' followed in second and third positions.

The festival also celebrated young talent, with Aryan Raundal winning Best Child Artist for his role in 'Kawala (The Crow)'. Sanchit Chakraborty and Vatsal Rathore followed in second and third places.

In technical categories, Vishal Goswami and Aman Gupta from 'The Forbidden Card' won Best Cinematographer, while Naveen Jave received the Best Editing award for 'Majra'.

The jury also gave a Special Jury Mention to 'Chappal', along with other notable short films.

Documentary Highlights

The documentary segment was dominated by 'Jail Second Chance', which won several major awards, including Best Documentary Film and Best Director for Harshit Mishra. Niwan Prachurya and Tarun Aerial also received accolades for cinematography and editing, respectively.

The festival showcased a diverse range of filmmaking, with stories that delve into folk traditions, social change, and the resilience of human relationships.

Behind the Top Films

'Kawala (The Crow)' tells the story of eight-year-old Ganu, who navigates local customs and beliefs surrounding menstruation and crows. The film explores how traditions shape young minds.

'Bhaand' focuses on a traditional performer struggling to survive in a changing society, highlighting themes of compassion and hope.

'Adamya', directed by Krishna D.K., emphasizes the importance of folk art in preserving cultural identity and inspiring resistance against injustice.

The festival organizers extended their congratulations to all filmmakers, actors, and technicians whose contributions made this event a vibrant celebration of cinema.