Delhi Hosts First International Film Festival at Bharat Mandapam | 01 Apr 2026

Why in News? 

The first edition of the International Film Festival of Delhi (IFFD) 2026 was inaugurated by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. 

Key Points 

• About: The first edition of the International Film Festival of Delhi (IFFD) is being organised from 25–31 March 2026 in New Delhi, establishing a global platform for cinema and filmmakers.  
  • Focus Country: Spain. 
• Organising Authority: The festival is organised by the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) in association with the Government of Delhi. 
• Opening Film: The festival opened with the Spanish-language film Sirât, directed by Oliver Laxe.  
• Global Participation: The festival features over 130 screenings from 47 countries, selected from more than 2,000 film submissions from 101 countries, showcasing diverse global cinema. 
• Objective: The festival aims to position New Delhi as a global hub for cinema and filmmaking and to promote film tourism under the city’s broader film policy initiatives. 
• Cultural Events: The opening ceremony featured a tribute marking 150 years of “Vande Mataram”. 
• Awards and Honours: During the inaugural event, Lifetime Achievement Awards were conferred on prominent film personalities including Sharmila Tagore, Dharmendra, and Nandamuri Balakrishna for their contributions to Indian cinema.