Overview
The Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) is a FIAPF-accredited competitive festival held annually in Bengaluru, capital of Karnataka state in India. The 17th edition ran January 29 to February 6, 2026, screening 248 feature films from over 70 countries across 13 screens. The festival recorded over 100,000 footfall and approximately 11,000 delegates. It is organized by the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy and the Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Karnataka.
BIFFes is one of only two Indian festivals with FIAPF accreditation, alongside IFFI in Goa. The accreditation means BIFFes meets international standards for competitive festival organization, jury composition, and programming transparency. For Asian filmmakers, BIFFes provides a competitively programmed platform with jury recognition and cash prizes. For Indian filmmakers, the festival's three competition sections create multiple entry points depending on the film's origin and language.
The 17th edition's theme was women's empowerment, titled "Woman As She Is: Shared Sensibilities and A Collective Voice for Equality." Actor Prakash Raj served as brand ambassador. The Government of Karnataka sanctioned Rs 7 crore (approximately $840,000 USD) for the 2025-26 financial year. Over 65 films directed by women were screened. Bengaluru's identity as India's technology capital gives BIFFes a distinct audience profile. The city's large IT workforce and cosmopolitan culture create an audience that is tech-savvy, English-fluent, and receptive to global cinema.
Key Sections
- Asian Cinema Competition - the international competitive section, with jury awards for First, Second, and Third Prize. The 17th edition featured 15 entries from across Asia
- Indian Cinema Competition (Chitrabharati) - competitive section for Indian feature films
- Kannada Cinema Competition - competitive section for Kannada-language feature films. The 17th edition featured 14 entries
- Kannada Cinema of Popular Entertainment - non-competitive showcase of popular Kannada cinema
- FIPRESCI Critics' Week - section programmed by the International Federation of Film Critics
- Contemporary World Cinema - non-competitive showcase of recent international films from major festivals
- Unsung Incredible India - films from little-known Indian languages and regional cinemas
- Festival Themed Films - themed section aligned with the 17th edition's women's empowerment focus
- Retrospectives - programs honoring directors, artists, and technicians
- Contemporary Filmmaker in Focus - dedicated program for a selected filmmaker
Submission Details
Submissions for the competitive sections are managed through the BIFFes website.
Competition categories:
- Asian Cinema Competition - feature fiction films from Asian countries
- Indian Cinema Competition (Chitrabharati) - feature fiction films from India
- Kannada Cinema Competition - feature fiction films in Kannada or dialects of Karnataka
Eligibility for Asian Cinema Competition:
- Films must be completed between January 1 and November 30, 2025
- Open to Asian countries
- Submissions require a declaration form confirming the submitter is the bona fide representative of the film
Eligibility for Indian and Kannada Cinema Competitions:
- Indian films completed within the specified production window
- Kannada films must be in Kannada or a dialect of Karnataka
Submission fee: The festival does not publicly list a submission fee for its competitive sections. Filmmakers should check the BIFFes website for current requirements.
Notification: Selected films are announced on the festival website prior to the festival dates.
Past Winners
17th edition (2026) Asian Cinema Competition:
- First Prize: Lost Land (Japan) - depicts the forced displacement of the Rohingya through two siblings negotiating an escape. Cash prize Rs 10 lakh (approximately $1,200 USD)
- Second Prize: Shape of Momo (Nepal/India), directed by Tribeny Rai - portrays three generations of women in a Himalayan village in Sikkim. Cash prize Rs 5 lakh
- Third Prize: The Deepest Space In Us (Japan), directed by Yasutomo Chikuma - a modern view of the young Japanese generation. Cash prize Rs 2 lakh
- Special Jury Mention: Republic of Pipolipinas (Philippines)
17th edition (2026) Indian Cinema Competition (Chitrabharati):
- First Prize: Sabar Bonda (Marathi), directed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade - a man returns to his hometown for a mourning period and reconnects with a childhood friend
- Second Prize: Moham (Malayalam), directed by Fazir Razak
- Third Prize: Kaadu (Malayalam), directed by Suneesh Vadakumbadan
- FIPRESCI Award: Gondhal (Marathi)
17th edition (2026) Kannada Cinema Competition:
- First Prize: Vanya, directed by Badiger Devendra - a father and daughter fight to protect their forest homeland
- Second Prize: Nam Saali, directed by Anil Revoor
- Third Prize: Ravana Rajyadalli Navadampatigalu, directed by Ranga
- NETPAC Jury Award: Hakkigagi
Lifetime Achievement Award: Hamsalekha, music composer and songwriter
Notable Alumni Films and Where They Ended Up
- Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears) (2026 Indian Competition First Prize) - directed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade. Won the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at Sundance 2025, the first Indian fiction feature to do so. First Marathi-language film to premiere at Sundance. Released in India September 19, 2025 by Spirit Media. US distribution by Strand Releasing.
- Shape of Momo (2026 Asian Competition Second Prize) - directed by Tribeny Rai. World premiered at the 30th Busan International Film Festival in September 2025, winning the Songwon Vision Award and Taipei Film Commission Award. Also screened at San Sebastian. Released May 29, 2026 by Spirit Media.
- Vanya (2026 Kannada Competition First Prize) - directed by Badiger Devendra. Premiered at the 56th IFFI Goa in the Indian Panorama section. Also screened at Vindhya IFF and Jaipur IFF. Devendra previously won a Special Jury Mention at BIFFes 2023 for IN.
Awards / Accreditation
Cash prizes (each competition section):
- First Prize: Rs 10 lakh (approximately $1,200 USD)
- Second Prize: Rs 5 lakh (approximately $600 USD)
- Third Prize: Rs 2 lakh (approximately $240 USD)
Additional awards:
- FIPRESCI Award (Indian Cinema Competition)
- NETPAC Jury Award (Kannada Cinema Competition)
- Special Jury Mentions (across competition sections)
- Lifetime Achievement Award
BIFFes holds FIAPF accreditation, placing it in a select group of competitive festivals worldwide that meet the International Federation of Film Producers Associations' standards. It is one of only two FIAPF-accredited festivals in India, alongside IFFI Goa.
Submission Tips Specific to This Festival
- The Asian Cinema Competition is the primary entry point for non-Indian filmmakers. Films must be completed within the specified production window (January 1 to November 30, 2025 for the 17th edition).
- The submission deadline for the 17th edition was December 31, 2025, for a festival starting January 29, 2026. The window is tight. Submit early.
- The declaration form for non-Indian films requires the submitter to confirm they are the bona fide representative of the film.
- For Kannada filmmakers, the Kannada Cinema Competition provides a dedicated competitive platform that larger Indian festivals do not offer.
- The festival's themed section changes annually. The 17th edition focused on women's empowerment. Highlight thematic alignment in your submission materials.
- The festival does not publicly list submission fees. Check the BIFFes website for current requirements.
- Films must be feature fiction (60 minutes or longer) for competition categories.
Industry Reputation Notes
BIFFes occupies a specific position in the Indian festival landscape. It is one of only two FIAPF-accredited festivals in India (alongside IFFI Goa), giving its competition sections institutional credibility. However, BIFFes does not have an attached film market, pitching forum, or co-production platform. Its industry function is screening and jury recognition rather than deal-making.
Compared to IFFI Goa, BIFFes is smaller in scale but more regionally focused. IFFI screens over 300 films and attracts larger international delegations. BIFFes screens approximately 248 films and attracts primarily Indian and regional Asian delegates.
The 17th edition became politically significant when brand ambassador Prakash Raj used the inauguration to urge the Karnataka government to screen Palestinian films, despite the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) not granting exemptions. This gave the festival media attention beyond its programming.
The festival's most tangible industry outcome is the exposure it provides to Kannada cinema. The separate Kannada Cinema Competition creates a dedicated platform that no other major Indian festival offers. The Sundance Grand Jury Prize win for Sabar Bonda before its BIFFes screening demonstrates that BIFFes-selected films can achieve major international recognition, though that recognition came from Sundance rather than BIFFes specifically.
Watch
What Filmmakers Should Know
BIFFes's FIAPF accreditation means competition sections are judged by juries meeting FIAPF criteria for international composition and independence from festival management. The Asian Cinema Competition is the primary entry point for non-Indian filmmakers, with 15 entries in the 17th edition.
For Kannada filmmakers, the Kannada Cinema Competition provides a dedicated competitive platform that larger Indian festivals do not offer. The separate Kannada Cinema of Popular Entertainment section gives commercial Kannada cinema a non-competitive showcase alongside the art-house competition.
The festival's themed section changes annually. The 17th edition's focus on women's empowerment meant films addressing gender and women's stories had a dedicated programming slot. Filmmakers whose work aligns with the annual theme should highlight this in their submission materials.
The submission deadline of December 31, 2025, for the January 2026 festival means the window between deadline and festival is tight. Submit early, as the selection process occurs during the final weeks before the festival opens.
Festival History
BIFFes was established in 2009 by the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy and the Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Karnataka. The festival was created to provide Bengaluru with an international festival comparable to IFFI in Goa, leveraging the city's cosmopolitan audience and its position as India's technology capital.
The festival received FIAPF accreditation, making it one of the few Indian festivals recognized by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations. Over 17 editions, BIFFes has balanced its three competitive sections with non-competitive showcases of world cinema, retrospectives, and themed programming. The festival's commitment to Kannada cinema reflects Karnataka's contribution to Indian parallel cinema, including Girish Kasaravalli, who won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film four times. The Government of Karnataka funds the festival, with the 2025-26 budget of Rs 7 crore covering operations, venues, travel, jury honoraria, and cash prizes.
See Also
To calculate the return on your festival submission spending, use the Festival ROI Calculator. For Asian cinema and international distribution, see International Film Markets. For Indian cinema, see Film Festival Strategy. For documentary filmmaking, see Documentary Filmmaking.
