Delhi International Film Festival (DIFF)

Overview

The Delhi International Film Festival (DIFF) is a five-day international film festival held in New Delhi, India. The 15th edition runs May 4 to 8, 2026, at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and the Ambedkar International Centre, screening 175 films from more than 60 countries. The festival is organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and IGNCA. Entry is free to the public, with delegate passes available through the official website.

DIFF is the only international film festival held in India's political capital. New Delhi's concentration of diplomats, journalists, policymakers, and cultural institutions gives the festival a context distinct from Mumbai's commercial film industry or Goa's IFFI. The 2026 edition places special focus on Arab Cinema, the cinema of India's Northeastern region, African cinema, and curated screenings from Russia and China. A significant portion of programming is dedicated to films on women's empowerment and social issues affecting children.

For filmmakers, DIFF provides access to India's government and cultural establishment alongside an international audience. Eight films screened and awarded at DIFF have gone on to win Indian National Awards, and four foreign films that screened at DIFF have served as official Oscar entries for their respective countries. The festival also hosts the CineXchange Film Market for business networking and the CineVerse Expo, which explores AI, VFX, and modern storytelling technology.

Submissions are accepted through the official website. Entry fees range from INR 1,500 (students) to INR 5,000 (features over 60 minutes), with late submissions charged double. The festival does not pay screening fees to filmmakers.

Key Sections

• Indian Showcase - notable Indian films across regional industries, with strong representation from South Indian cinema
• World Cinema - international features from 60+ countries
• Arab Cinema - special focus section for the 2026 edition
• NRI Cinema - films by non-resident Indians and the diaspora
• Across-Border Cinema - cross-border and transnational films
• Short Films - competitive short film programs
• Documentaries - nonfiction programming
• Animation - animated films
• Northeastern Indian Cinema - dedicated showcase for the 2026 edition
• Special Screenings - 4K restorations of Indian classics, gala premieres, and retrospective programs
• CineXchange Film Market - industry networking and business market
• CineVerse Expo - AI, VFX, and technology in storytelling
• Masterclasses - led by industry figures including Tigmanshu Dhulia (brand ambassador) and Ketan Mehta

What Filmmakers Should Know

Submission Process and Fees

Submissions are made through the official DIFF website at delhiinternationalfilmfestival.com. The festival also accepts physical submissions via HD DVD courier for films with no online presence. The 2025 fee structure (2026 fees expected to be similar) was:

Features (over 60 minutes):

• Standard: INR 5,000 / $55 USD
• Late: INR 10,000 / $110 USD (double the standard fee)

Shorts (under 60 minutes):

• Standard: INR 2,000 / $28 USD
• Late: INR 4,000 / $56 USD (double the standard fee)

Student Films:

• Standard: INR 1,600 / $19 USD
• Late: INR 3,200 / $38 USD (double the standard fee)

Payment is made via bank transfer to The Social Circle, State Bank of India, Masjid Moth, Panchsheel Enclave, New Delhi. From India: SBIN0007756. From abroad: SWIFT code SBININBB382.

Eligibility Requirements

• Open to filmmakers from all countries
• Films in languages other than English must have English subtitles or they will not be considered
• Only full films are accepted (no trailers or promos)
• Films must not have watermarks
• Films can be submitted via online links or physical HD DVDs (two copies, labeled with film title, director name, duration, phone number, and email)
• International packages must be marked "For Festival and Cultural Purpose only, No Commercial value"
• Once a film is selected for screening, it cannot be withdrawn
• DIFF does not pay screening fees to filmmakers
• The festival does not reimburse freight or other charges in foreign or Indian currency
• The President's decision on selections, screenings, and awards is final

Important Dates

The 15th edition runs May 4 to 8, 2026. Historical submission deadlines have fallen in December of the year preceding the festival, with selection announcements approximately one month after the deadline. For the 12th edition (January 2025), the submission deadline was December 10, 2024 (extended to December 15, 2024), with selection intimation on December 25.

Filmmakers should check the official website for current deadline information, as the festival has adjusted its calendar for the 2026 edition.

Market and Industry Presence

DIFF is not a film market in the traditional sense, but the 2026 edition introduces two industry-facing components:

• CineXchange Film Market - a networking platform for filmmakers, distributors, and content buyers
• CineVerse Expo - an exhibition exploring the intersection of AI, VFX, and modern storytelling

The festival's Delhi location provides access to government cultural policymakers, the diplomatic community, and Indian National Award voters. The festival has had Country Partners including Canada, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Morocco, Tunisia, Palestine, Russia, and Israel in previous editions.

DIFF also extends support to the Jharkhand and Haryana International Film Festivals and to upcoming film festivals in South India and other nations. The DIFFA Awards (Delhi International Film Festival Academy Awards) are planned to be held annually abroad to promote and honor contributions to Indian cinema.

Festival Context

New Delhi is the seat of the Indian government and a major cultural center with a population of approximately 33 million in the metropolitan area. The city hosts the IGNCA (under the Ministry of Culture), the National Museum, the National Gallery of Modern Art, and multiple cultural institutions. DIFF's venue at IGNCA and the Ambedkar International Centre places it within India's government cultural infrastructure.

The festival offers free entry to the public. Delegate passes can be registered on the official website. This open-access model means screenings can fill quickly, particularly for gala premieres and special focus programs.

India's film festival landscape is crowded. DIFF competes for attention with IFFI Goa (India's oldest international film festival, government-backed), MAMI Mumbai (industry-focused), IFFK Kerala (focused on art cinema), and the newer government-led International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD CineXchange, held in March 2026, a separate event run by the Delhi government). DIFF distinguishes itself through its IGNCA partnership, free public access, and its focus on cultural diplomacy and regional Indian cinema.

Major Awards

• Minar-e-Delhi Award - conferred for contributions to cinema and cultural exchange (2026 recipient: Bangladeshi singer Runa Laila)
• Lifetime Achievement Award - for career achievement (2026 recipient: Usha Uthup)
• Best Film - competitive jury prize
• Special Jury Prize
• Best Documentary
• Best Short Film
• Audience Award
• DIFFA Awards - Delhi International Film Festival Academy Awards, planned for international presentation

Festival History

The Delhi International Film Festival was founded in 2012. The festival has operated for over a decade, growing from a smaller event into a multi-day festival screening 175 films from 60+ countries. The 12th edition was held January 4 to 10, 2025, in association with the Government of Nagaland, NDMC, and the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. The 15th edition (May 2026) represents a shift to a May schedule and a larger partnership with IGNCA and the Ministry of Culture.

Over its editions, DIFF has built relationships with international cultural organizations and government bodies. The festival has served as a platform for films that subsequently won Indian National Awards and films that became official Oscar entries for their countries. Its inclusive approach has brought strong representation from all of India's regional film industries, particularly the South Indian film industry.

The festival is approved by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and operates as a composite body to promote Indian cinema, culture, and tourism in India and abroad.

See Also

For Indian cinema and international film markets, see International Film Markets. For festival submission strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. To calculate the return on festival submission spending, use the Festival Entry Fee ROI Calculator. For the official entry form and rules, see the DIFF Film Entry Form.