The 19th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2026 concluded yesterday on a high note of celebrating documentary, animation, and short fiction cinema from around the world.

The festival received an impressive 1,459 entries and showcased outstanding work from filmmakers across the globe. a total of 144 films from 13 countries competed in various categories, while 202 films from 46 countries were screened in the non-competition section.

According to a MIFF press release , at the closing ceremony, 17 awards were presented to recognize excellence in filmmaking. the top international honour, the golden conch award for best international documentary film and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, went to the polish documentary silver. Iranian short fiction film ‘Under The Snow’ won the silver conch award for best International short fiction film along with Rs.5 lakh, while Germany’s Maya’s Song received the silver conch award for best international animation film and a Rs 5 lakh cash prize.

In the national competition section, ‘Waai’ won the silver conch award for best Indian documentary film and Rs 5 lakh. Small Clouds, produced by FTII, was named best Indian short fiction film, while Tamil animation film ‘Armstrong’ from Angaalamman temple street won the award for best Indian animation film.

Among the special honours, ‘The Hug of Emptiness’ by Pradeep Kenchanuru received the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize. Pooja Tolani won the Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari award for best debut director for Raaza, while Milan Kumar’s ‘The Old Bull Knows’, or ‘Once Knew’ received the IDPA award for best student film.

The festival also featured 24 curated sections, including Best of Fest, Oscar Winners, Busan Next Wave, NFDC Showcase, Echoes from North East, Marathi Films, and IFFI CMOT, offering audiences a rich mix of Indian and international cinema.

With participation from filmmakers, industry experts, students, and film lovers, MIFF 2026 once again showcased the power of storytelling and reinforced its position as one of India’s leading film festivals.