IFP is set to return for its 16th season with a two-day celebration of creativity, culture and storytelling at Mehboob Studios, Mumbai, on October 24 and 25, 2026. The festival will bring together established names and emerging creators from filmmaking, music, writing, design, photography and performing arts.

According to a press release, IFP has announced the jury members for its creative challenges as it prepares for Season 16. What began in 2011 as a 50-hour filmmaking challenge has evolved over the years into a multidisciplinary creative platform connecting creators across fields, generations and geographies.

For the Filmmaking Challenge, the jury includes Raam Reddy, Pushkar-Gayatri, Karthik Subbaraj and Anusha Rizvi. The panel brings together filmmakers and storytellers known for their work across cinema and streaming. Subbaraj, who directed ‘Dorothy’, and Pushkar-Gayatri, known for their work on ‘Vadhandhi’, are among the prominent names joining the jury.

The Music Challenge will be judged by Khalid Ahamed, Kanishk Seth, Kavita Seth, Uday Benegal, Nucleya and Dabzee. The jury represents a diverse range of musical styles and experiences spanning independent, contemporary and popular music.

The Writing Challenge jury features Karan Anshuman, Abhay Koranne, Sumit Roy, Rashmi Bansal, Tara Khandelwal, Chiki Sarkar and Prayaag Akbar. The panel brings together voices from screenwriting, literature, publishing and storytelling, with Koranne also known for creating ‘Matka King’.

The Design Challenge will be judged by Muhammed Sajid, Amrit Pal Singh, Omkar Patil, Shayak Sen and Mira F. Malhotra. The Photography Challenge jury includes Joseph Radhik, Vineet Vohra, Rid Burman and Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Sanna Irshad Mattoo.

For the Performing Arts Challenge, the jury features Tess Joseph, Akarsh Khurana, Aalok Shrivastav, Kena Shree and Aleena, bringing together perspectives from casting, theatre, poetry, writing and performance.

The creative challenges remain central to IFP’s identity. Built around the idea of giving creators a deadline, platform and motivation to turn their ideas into finished work, the challenges have expanded beyond filmmaking over the years to cover several creative disciplines. The festival continues to provide a platform for emerging voices while bringing them into conversation with established professionals.

Speaking about IFP entering its 16th season, Ritam Bhatnagar, Founder, IFP, said the festival began with the simple belief that talented people often need a reason, a deadline and a platform to create. He said one of the most rewarding aspects of the journey has been seeing participants return over the years as professionals, collaborators, speakers and jury members. According to Bhatnagar, while the creative landscape has changed considerably, the excitement of making something and putting it out into the world remains at the heart of IFP.

Pushkar-Gayatri, who will be part of the Filmmaking Challenge jury, said they were excited to be associated with IFP Season 16. They noted that their experience as writers, directors, creative producers and showrunners has given them an understanding of the courage required to put one’s work before an audience. They also highlighted IFP’s multidisciplinary approach, bringing together creators from films, music, literature, design, comedy and photography under one platform.

Season 16 will feature conversations, workshops, performances, creative challenges and other experiences, creating opportunities for established creative voices and the next generation of creators to interact and collaborate.

IFP Season 16 will take place on October 24 and 25 at Mehboob Studios, Mumbai. The festival schedule and the line-up of speakers and sessions are expected to be announced soon.