Mumbai, get ready! The city that thrives on dreams and stories is about to be taken over by the cinematic extravaganza of the year. The 12th edition of the Jagran Film Festival (JFF), India’s largest traveling film festival, is gearing up to bring ” Good Cinema For Everyone” to the heart of this vibrant city. Following successful runs in Delhi, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Raipur, Ranchi, Indore, Siliguri, Kanpur, Lucknow, Patna, Meerut, Gorakhpur, Agra, Ludhiana, and Dehradun that attracted a large audience of cinephiles and film enthusiasts, experiencing some of the best of their time. These cities received extensive promotion from numerous celebrities and esteemed figures in the theatre industry who actively engaged in a discussion on a wide range of topics. The festival will begin in Hisar and Darbhanga from February 28 to March 2, before welcoming film enthusiasts in Mumbai. From 6 to 9th March, the event will take place at Fun Cinemas, Andheri West which will transform into the ultimate hub for dreamers, independent directors, and storytellers alike in the capital city of cinema.
From an impressive pool of 4,787 submissions, 292 outstanding films, features, Shorts, and documentaries were selected, representing 78 languages, and showcasing the richness of diversity from 111 countries. The festival journeyed through 18 cities across 11 states over 100 days, culminating in Mumbai, highlighting its unparalleled reach and inclusivity. With its theme of Good Cinema for Everyone, The Jagran Film Festival celebrates the transformative power of storytelling featuring an impressive lineup of films, masterclasses, panel discussions, and prestigious award ceremonies. Highlights include Mukesh Chhabra: Unveiling Who He’s Casting Next, a Theatre Panel Grammar of Cinema with Dev Faujdar and Jayant Deshmukh. A Casting Session with Shruti Mahajan’s Cast-o-Meter, an exclusive conversation with Pankaj Kapur, and much more. The spotlight will be on independent cinema, with a special focus on directors, writers, and actors who are shaping the future of filmmaking in India and beyond. The event will culminate in a glamorous awards night on March 9th, where remarkable talent will be honored.
Speaking about the festival in Mumbai, Basant Rathore, Senior Vice President of Jagran Prakashan Limited, shares, “We are honored to have been part of this incredible journey for so long. The Jagran Film Festival holds a special place in our hearts, bringing moviegoers together across cities and connecting them with regional, national, and international cinema. For us, cinema is more than just an art—it is a powerful medium that inspires, unites, and ignites meaningful conversations. After over 100 days of this cinematic journey, the Jagran Film Festival (JFF) is set to conclude in Mumbai from March 6th to 9th. On the evening of March 9th, we will host an award ceremony to honor outstanding writers, independent directors, and films that have made significant contributions and achieved remarkable milestones in their journey so far. Mumbai, known to be the city of dreamers, filmmakers, and storytellers, is the perfect setting to conclude the spectacle of celebrating cinema.” He adds, _As a flagship initiative of the Jagran Prakashan Group, this festival represents our unwavering commitment to making quality cinema accessible to all while fostering meaningful conversations about the art and craft of storytelling With each edition, we strive to celebrate diverse narratives, honor cinematic excellence, and create a platform where filmmakers and audiences come together to share their passion for storytelling.
The 12th edition of the Jagran Film Festival (JFF) has already welcomed an impressive array of luminaries from the Indian film and theater world. Renowned personalities such as Pankaj Kapur, Manoj Bajpayee, Bhuvan Bam, Vicky Kaushal, Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Keval Arora, Paritosh Tripathi, Mohit Tripathi, Rahul Rawail, Sudhir Mishra, Mukesh Chhabra, Rajpal Yadav, Nana Patekar, Abhishek Kapoor, Mukesh Chhabra, Kiku Sharda, Rasha Thadani, Aaman Devgan, Junaid Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Paritosh Tripathi, Dimpy Mishra, Ganesh Acharya, Jaanya Joshi, Sushant Thamke, Viidhi, Utkarsh Sharma, Simrat Kaur, Onir, Akash Menon, Palash Dutta, Mir Salman, Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. Anil Prakash Joshi and many more have shared their invaluable insights during the Achievers Talks, Masterclasses, In Conversations, and Panel Discussions. Their involvement has significantly enriched the festival, emphasizing the power of storytelling and creative expression.
The upcoming edition of the festival in Mumbai would be fill with In conversations, Panel Discussions and Master Classes, Audiences can look forward to Mukesh Chhabra revealing his next casting project, followed by an In Conversation session with Shilpa Shetty and then Nawazuddin Siddiqui. On 7th March, the schedule includes an In Conversation session, a workshop on Choreomind: Geometry of Dance and a Theatre Panel on Grammar of Cinema featuring Dev Faujdar and Jayant Deshmukh. The 8th of March will host a panel discussion on the theatre industry with stalwarts Kumud Mishra, Gopal Dutt, and Shubhrajyoti Barat. Finally, on 9th March, there will be an In Conversation session with Pankaj Kapur.
Mumbai promises an exciting lineup of films, featuring a captivating mix of personal narratives and bold social theme, Audiences can expect a diverse selection, including Party of Shadows, Soch – A – Perception, Land of Solomn, Irani Chai, and the documentary Thakar Lok Kalayein, Bombay Has No More Crocodiles. Additionally, notable titles such as We are Faheem and Karun, Friends by Chance, Ahana, The Light Within, Mrs. Tendulkar, Otta, Leer, Chicken Broth Soup, Hantu, and Country Focus Quy Cau will be featured, enriching the cinematic experience. The festival is set to present films like Don’t Mess with Carla Jane, Commander, Godaan, Emna, Banaras Ban, alongside engaging workshops such as Choreomind: Geometry of Dance and impactful performances like Nukkad Natak – A Street Play. Other highlights will include Dhai Aakhar, A Son of Himalaya, To the Summit, Sultan Short – Asia Premiere, Namastey Sir, Lefty, Panchwa Paratha, Lifeline, Blind Spot, Cake, Cheeni, Kalponik, and the world premiere of Prathishtha. Further adding to the lineup will be Lilly Chacha, One Who Watches, Wide Angle, 60, Bartan Hai… Bartan Hai, Chor – A Tale of A Thief, Thanks Mom, Clan Woman/Jami, 1000 KM, Last Seen, Evergreen, Orange, Shanti Niketan, Gold Medal, 6 A Aakash Ganga, Rhythm of Heritage, and The Untold Story of Pandit Ram Mohan Maharaj Overview. The festival’s international section will feature Two Women Behind Bars as the closing film, along with socially relevant works like Climate Change Natural: Enjoy it – A Film on the Work of Dr. Ritesh Arya. Other noteworthy screenings will include Painted Stories, Mysterious Shepherd, Shashwatam, Nazar, The First Film, An Errand, Good Morning General, Night in the City, Chaatar, Jaya, and many more. With such a diverse selection, cinephiles and film enthusiasts will have the opportunity to experience a wide range of storytelling styles, from thought-provoking dramas to innovative narratives.
