12th International Film Festival of Shimla is set to open with Global Cinema, Celebrity Guests and Masterclasses
Films from across countries and India to be showcased over three days at Gaiety Cultural Complex
September 24, 2026
(Viren Thakur)
The 12th International Film Festival of Shimla (IFFS) is all set to open, at the historic Gaiety Cultural Complex, Shimla, bringing together filmmakers, actors, writers and cinema enthusiasts for a three-day celebration of world and Indian cinema.
The festival will be inaugurated by Shri Mukesh Agnihotri, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Language, Art & Culture, Government of Himachal Pradesh, who will be the Chief Guest at the inaugural ceremony.
The 12th IFFS, being held from September 25 to 27, 2026, will feature films from 33 countries and 15 Indian states, representing diverse languages, cultures and cinematic traditions. The festival will screen short films, documentaries, feature films, animation and other cinematic works at the Gaiety Cultural Complex.
The inaugural day will also feature the presence of prominent personalities from Indian cinema. Director and writer Amit Rai, actor Manoj Joshi and actor Sharib Hashmi will attend the festival as Celebrity Guests and interact with audiences through special sessions.
A special session with actor Manoj Joshi, moderated by senior journalist Ashwini Sharma, is scheduled for September 25. Later in the day, actor Sharib Hashmi will participate in an interactive session moderated by journalist, film and art critic and author Ms. Nonika Singh.
Director and writer Amit Rai will also participate in a special felicitation and interaction session during the festival. His presence will provide an opportunity for filmmakers, students and cinema enthusiasts to engage with his experiences and perspectives on filmmaking.
The festival programme includes screenings at the MP Theatre and Gothic Theatre, along with masterclasses at the Conference Hall. The first masterclass is scheduled on September 25, followed by further masterclasses on September 26 and 27.
The three-day programme will present films from countries including Iran, Bulgaria, Armenia, Nepal, Portugal, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, France, Rwanda, Uganda, Indonesia, Ukraine, Spain, Brazil and others, alongside films from different parts of India. The screening schedule includes films in languages such as Hindi, English, Persian, Portuguese, Korean, Nepali, Marathi, Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali and several other Indian and international languages.
The festival will conclude on September 27, with the Award Ceremony at 5:00 PM. Shri Kavinder Gupta, Hon’ble Governor of Himachal Pradesh, will be the Chief Guest at the Award Ceremony.
Festival Director Pushp Raj Thakur said that the 12th edition of IFFS aims to provide a platform for independent filmmakers from India and around the world while creating opportunities for meaningful interaction between filmmakers and audiences.
The festival is being organized at the Gaiety Cultural Complex, Shimla, with the support and collaboration with NFDC Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, Deptt of Language & Culture, GoHP and Himalayan Velocity. The 12th International Film Festival of Shimla will run from September 25 to 27, 2026, at Gaiety Cultural Complex, Shimla.
