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Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday announced key details of the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFES) following a preparatory review meeting, stating that the festival will be held from January 29 to February 6, 2026.

Renowned actor, director and producer Prakash Raj has been appointed as the Brand Ambassador for the 17th edition of the festival.

Grand Opening & Theme

The Chief Minister said the inauguration ceremony will be held on the grand steps in front of Vidhana Soudha, marking a prestigious opening for the international event.

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This year’s festival will be themed around Women Empowerment, reflecting socially relevant narratives and global perspectives.

Venues & Screenings

Film screenings will be held across multiple venues in Bengaluru, including:

Cinepolis (11 screens) at Lulu Mall, Rajajinagar
Dr. Rajkumar Bhavana
Karnataka Chalanachitra Kalavidara Sangha, Chamarajapete
Suchitra Film Society theatres at Banashankari

Global Participation

The Chief Minister said the festival will feature over 200 films from more than 60 countries, with over 400 screenings, including Kannada, Indian and international cinema.

Competitive sections for Asian, Indian and Kannada films have received an encouraging response, with over 110 films submitted so far.
The last date for submission is December 31, 2025.

Films showcased at prestigious global festivals such as Cannes (France), Berlin (Germany), Venice (Italy), Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic), Locarno (Switzerland), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Busan (South Korea) and Toronto (Canada)—many of them award winners and critically acclaimed—will be screened at BIFFES.

In addition, Oscar-shortlisted films from various countries will also be part of this year’s festival lineup.

Special Curated Sections

National cultural institutions including Polish Cultural Centre (New Delhi), Goethe-Institut – Max Mueller Bhavan, Bengaluru, Alliance Française – French Institute, and the Royal Thailand Consulate are collaborating to present their country’s best films.
In association with the Polish Cultural Centre, a retrospective of legendary Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda is being organised to mark his birth centenary.
A special curated section on the history of African cinema is being presented in collaboration with Alliance Française Bengaluru and the French Institute in India.

Academic Programmes & Exhibitions

To accommodate a larger number of registered delegates, a dedicated academic stage will be set up at the main festival venue.

Alongside this, a photographic exhibition highlighting 91 years of Kannada cinema history, showcasing iconic milestones and visual memories of the industry, will be organised.

Budget & Awards

For the 2025-26 financial year, the government has sanctioned ₹7 crore for organising the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival.

The closing ceremony will feature awards for Best Films across categories, along with the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Chief Minister said.

The preparatory meeting was attended by: Sadhu Kokila, President, Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, B.B. Kaveri, Secretary, Information & Public Relations Department, Hemanth Nimbalkar, Commissioner, Anjum Parvez, Additional Chief Secretary, Ritesh Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary, Finance Department, Members of the Film Academy, Organising Committee and Film Chamber of Commerce