Bhubaneswar: Odisha capital is set to welcome a new chapter in its cultural and cinematic journey with the 2026 Bhubaneswar International Film Festival (BIFF), a platform for cinematic excellence, cultural exchange, and film appreciation.
Founded by filmmaker Manas Sahoo, BIFF was introduced at a conference attended by festival director Sukant; patron Akbir Panigrahi; former additional secretary Deba Prasad Dash; Anil Dhir; Partha Sarathy Ray; and Prataya Panda.
Guided by global standards, BIFF aims to become Odisha’s first professionally organised international competitive film festival, with transparent processes for selecting, evaluating, and celebrating films. Under the theme “Where Heritage Meets Cinema,” it will bring international cinema to Bhubaneswar and share Odisha’s stories, heritage, and creative identity with the world.
BIFF is designed as an international competition, not just a screening program. It will bring filmmakers together across national and international cinema and recognize artistic integrity, technical innovation, storytelling, cultural significance, and entertainment value.
Festival sections include International Competition; National Competition – Indian Languages; Odia Cinema Panorama; International AI Film Festival; and Short Film and Documentary Competition. Special showcases will focus on women directors, tribal and indigenous cinema, children’s films, heritage and culture, and environmental cinema.
BIFF will connect filmmakers, producers, actors, critics, scholars, students, and cinema enthusiasts from India and abroad. Its AI Cinema section will explore AI-generated films, hybrid cinema, and experimental digital storytelling. Workshops, masterclasses, filmmaker discussions, panels, and networking events will support emerging talent and professional collaboration.
BIFF will bring Odisha’s cultural heritage into dialogue with world cinema, connecting regional identity and global perspectives. It also aims to promote Odia cinema and encourage participation from film institutions, cultural organizations, industry associations, and government bodies
Founder and president Manas Sahoo said: “Odisha has a remarkable cultural heritage and a rich cinematic tradition. What we need today is a professionally structured, internationally oriented competitive platform that can provide our filmmakers and technicians with a true vision of the global standards of cinema.
BIFF is conceived to bring a disciplined and meaningful system of film evaluation, where the true craft of cinema—its storytelling, visual language, direction, performance, cinematography, editing and sound—is recognized and celebrated. Our ambition is to create a platform where a filmmaker from Odisha can compete with a filmmaker from anywhere in the world on the strength of their artistic vision and cinematic excellence. We want to encourage thousands of filmmakers and technicians, inspire the next generation and establish Bhubaneswar as a significant destination for international cinema.”
BIFF is not simply a festival of films; it is a commitment to the future of cinema, the dignity of its craft and the global recognition of Odisha, he said
Invitation to the Global Film Community
BIFF invites filmmakers, production houses, cinema associations, cultural institutions, government bodies, sponsors, media organizations, film schools, and cinema lovers to join the initiative and help build an ecosystem for artistic excellence, professional filmmaking, cultural dialogue, and international exchange.
The festival has received more than 120 submissions across categories from over 20 countries. Further announcements will be made through BIFF’s official channels.
About BIFF
BIFF promotes international and Indian cinema, celebrates Odisha’s heritage, supports emerging filmmakers, and fosters global cinematic exchange.
