The 19th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2026 concluded today, bringing down the curtains on a seven-day celebration of non-fiction cinema. The closing ceremony was held at Mumbai’s Ravindra Natya Mandir in the presence of Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Prabhat, and other dignitaries.
‘Silver’ from Poland won the Golden Conch for Best Documentary in the International Competition section, while ‘Maya’s Song’ received the Silver Conch for Best Animation Film and ‘Under the Snow’ won the Silver Conch for Best Short Fiction Film. In the National Competition section, the Silver Conch for Best Animation Film was awarded to ‘Armstrong from Angalamman Kovil Street’. The Silver Conch for Best Short Fiction Film went to ‘Small Clouds’, while ‘Waai’ won the Silver Conch for Best Documentary Film. ‘The Old Bull Knows, Or Once Knew’ received the award for Best Student Film, while ‘The Last Shelter’ won the award for Best Short Film on ‘Viksit Bharat/150 Years of Vande Mataram/Bharat@2026’.
Addressing the gathering, Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma hailed MIFF as one of the world’s most prestigious festivals for non-fiction cinema. He said that, over the years, the festival has evolved from a national platform into a truly global movement celebrating artistic excellence, cultural diversity and meaningful storytelling. Highlighting the importance of documentaries, short films and animation, he noted that their significance in today’s world extends beyond entertainment. He called upon young people from rural and tribal communities, as well as women, to bring forward their unique stories. Underscoring the need for the wise and judicious use of Artificial Intelligence, the Governor stressed that filmmakers’ intellectual property rights must be protected.
Festival Director and Managing Director of the National Film Development Corporation, Prakash Magdum, filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, jury members, and members of the film fraternity were present on the occasion.
