Competition Sections

• International Competition
• National Competition

Non-Competition Sections

• MIFF Prism
• Retrospectives/Special Packages/Homage etc.

Eligibility

International Competition - Films made in India or abroad between 01 January, 2024 and 31 December, 2025 are eligible.
National Competition – Films made in India by Indian citizens between 01 January, 2024 and 31 December, 2025 are eligible.

• One film can be entered in one competition section only, either in International or National.
• Film(s) entered/screened in earlier editions of MIFF or their shorter, revised or re-edited version will not be eligible.
• Animation feature films, film series, episodes made/commissioned for TV Channels/Cable TV/OTT and any other digital platform are not eligible for entry.
• Film can be entered by any organization /agency or by individual film Producer /Director who holds the copyright. There is no restriction on number of entries.

Awards

A total of 14 awards will be given away as detailed below.

• International competition is open to all, including Indian film makers.
• National competition is open only to entries from India by Indian citizens. Applicants must submit proof of Indian citizenship such as Passport, Voter ID or any other appropriate government ID or document.

How to Apply?

• Producers, Distributors, Right Holders or their duly authorized representatives may enter their films only via the Film Freeway platform (https://filmfreeway.com/MumbailnternationalFilmFestival-MlFF) after duly reading the Regulations.
  No entries will be accepted offline.
• Procedure — Applicant has to fill up the required fields and upload bio-data, photographs, filmography etc.
• Entry Fee – The Entry fee is non-refundable. It has to be paid through online payment gateway

Submission Date : 11-03-2026 to 07-04-2026

International Competition
Filmmakers from other countries	INR 5,000
Indian film makers	INR 1,500
National Competition	INR 1,000

• Entrant is required to submit film in H.264/MP4 (under 2G with 1920x1080 resolution) through Vimeo Link! Google Drive and a soft copy containing Director's photograph, bio-data, filmography, synopsis of the film, stills of the film, posters and pamphlets along-with promos/trailers, packed properly and freight pre-paid.
• Films other than in English, should be sub-titled in English.
• Director's Debut Film: Entry for the film in Director's Debut Film Category should be submitted along-with a certificate by the applicant that the film is the debut film of Director, failing which, the film will not be treated as Director's Debut Film. If the Director has made, at an earlier date, any feature film, short, documentary or animation film, (except a student film as a part of curriculum), he/she shall not be eligible for this award. (For Certificate, please see link given below)
• Student Film : Entry for the film in Student Film category should be submitted along-with a Certificate from the Institute/Film School concerned, failing which, the film will not be treated as a Student’s film. (For Certificate, please see link given below)
• MIFF Prism (Non-Competition Section): Films which miss out on final selection but are recommended by the Selection Committee for MIFF Prism shall be included in this section. (Entrant may please see the relevant column in the Entry Form)

Cut-off Date: 7th April, 2026 (for both International as well as National competitions)

Submission of Documents: All required documents, must reach the office of 19th MIFF, latest by 13-4-2026 till 06:00 PM.

Format for final Screening :

• Acceptable format is DCP (Unencrypted, DCI Compliant —J2K, Interop or SM PIE DCP — Note: J2KInterop DCP to be only in 24/25 fps). No other format will be accepted for final screening in competition section.

Intimation

• Successful submission of entry shall be e-acknowledged.
• List of films selected in the Competition and MIFF Prism shall be published on MIFF Website.
• Only entrants of films selected in Competition and MIFF Prism Section shall be informed about the selection.

Hospitality

Directors whose films are selected in the competition sections:
-Air fare along-with local hospitality for 3-Nights as per film's screening schedule.

Directors whose films are selected in the MIFF Prism (non-Competitive Section)
-Air fare along-with local hospitality for 2-Nights as per film's screening schedule

Selection Process

• Entries will be previewed by a duly constituted Selection Committee which will select! recommend the films for the competition sections.
• NFDC will have the right to make copies of DCP for pre-selection /selection purpose.
• The decision of the Selection Committees shall be final and binding on all.
• Final screening in the festival is subject to exemption/approval by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
• Films once selected and submitted for the final screening, will not be allowed to be withdrawn.
• Participation in the festival implies acceptance of Festival Regulations

Jury

• Separate, duly constituted juries for International and National Competition shall determine the winning films in respective categories. The decision of the Jury will be final and binding on all.
• The Jury reserves the right to withhold an award in any category where no entry, in the Jury's view, meets the standards for award / recognition. It also reserves the right to recommend sharing of award(s) in any category and to recommend special Jury award/Certificate of Merit.

Rights of NFDC

• NFDC reserves the right to accept or not to accept any film for screening in any category without assigning any reason(s) whatsoever.
• CBFC certification is not essential for entering films in the festival. However, inclusion of the films in the festival and their screening will be subject to exemption granted by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
• Copy of the award-winning films will be retained by NFDC for its Archival purposes and for non-commercial screenings.
• NFDC will have the right to screen Award Winning /MIFF Prism films in different places in India on non-commercial basis for promotion/publicity of documentaries and MIFF.
• Decisions of the Festival Directorate/Ministry of Information & Broadcasting regarding all matters not expressly provided for in these regulations or which require interpretation of the clauses mentioned above shall be final and binding on all.

Copyright

• It is the sole responsibility of the entrant to secure clearance from the copyright holders of any copyrighted material included in the film. MIFF and NFDC will not be held responsible for the unauthorized inclusion of any copyrighted material within or relating to the submitted film. MIFF reserves the right to disqualify any film with any unauthorized inclusion of copyrighted material.

Shipment

Cost of shipment (by any mode) of film in any digital media to the Festival Directorate shall be borne by the entrant.

Insurance

• Insurance cost of film in transit from the country of origin to the NFDC shall be borne by the entrant.
• NFDC undertakes to insure DCP against technical damage, fire, destruction, loss, theft during the period between their arrival at NFDC and dispatch.
• NFDC will not be responsible for normal wear and tear of the filmic materials

General

• MIFF is under no obligation to provide comments or feedback to the entrant or any other representative regarding the films entered.
• For promotion/publicity of MIFF, clippings from any film entered in the festival shall be shown on the National/International/Local television networks/Cinemas/OTI/social media platforms/Internet, etc.
• Clippings of selected films will be screened on the official website of the Festival.
• Entry Forms with incorrect/inadequate illegible/ambiguous particulars and not submitted along with the required entry fee/certificate/undertaking will not be considered.
• Request for fee waiver shall not be entertained.

Withdrawal

Once the film has been selected and the right holder confirms her/his agreement, the film in the official programme shall not be withdrawn from the festival programme before or during the event.

Disclaimer

All disputes in respect of any matter relating to the MIFF shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts and fora in Mumbai.

*ATTENTION -

Dubbed version films are also not acceptable, only original version of the film should be submitted.

All cast & crew details must be entered.

The Declaration and Authorisation letter to NFDC for 19th MIFF can be found in the following link (please copy and paste the following link in your browser to download the letter):

It is mandatory to submit the above document dully filled with the physical sign & seal of the director and producer/institute or college authorities and send it along with ID proof of director and producer via email to miff.india@nfdcindia.com and original copy of the letter via post/courier to the following address latest by 13 April, 2026 failing which your film will not be considered:

19TH MUMBAI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (MIFF-2026) For Documentary, Short & Animation Films